New York City has one of the most severe behavioral health workforce shortages in the US. With 700+ licensed mental health clinics and the largest public psychiatric system in the country, the demand for travel LCSW, LMHC, LMFT, and psychiatric RN is persistent and growing.
Live openings updated every 4 hours. Pay packages include taxable base + tax-free NYC housing stipend + meal stipends.
NY behavioral health positions open frequently — join our priority list.
NYC BH positions move quickly. Contact our behavioral health team to be notified the moment a matching opening is posted.
Join Priority ListNYC pay is 15–25% above upstate NY for the same credential. All packages include taxable base + tax-free housing stipend (NYC GSA lodging rates: up to $5,000/month).
| Credential | NY Weekly Pay | Compact Status | Demand | Best Setting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed Psychologist (PhD/PsyD) | $2,200–$2,800/wk | None | High | Forensic, neuropsych, correctional, VA |
| LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) | $1,800–$2,400/wk | Social Work Compact* | Very High | VA, correctional, CMHC, hospital |
| LMHC (NY equivalent of LPC) | $1,700–$2,200/wk | Counseling Compact* | Very High | CMHC, inpatient psych, school-based |
| Psychiatric RN (RN-BC Psych) | $1,900–$2,600/wk | Non-compact (NY not in NLC) | Very High | Inpatient psych, OMH hospitals, crisis units |
| LMFT (Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist) | $1,500–$2,000/wk | None | High | Family-based CMHCs, child & adolescent programs |
| CASAC (Substance Abuse Counselor) | $1,200–$1,600/wk | N/A | High | SUD/dual-diagnosis residential and outpatient |
*Compact status evolving — NY not yet a full member of either the Social Work or Counseling Compact. Individual endorsement applications required.
New York has the most complex layered behavioral health system of any state — public hospitals, state OMH facilities, VA, corrections, and 700+ licensed outpatient clinics. Each sector has distinct credential needs and pay levels.
The largest public inpatient psychiatric system in the US. Bellevue Hospital Center has one of the country's most storied psych units. Kings County (Brooklyn), Elmhurst (Queens), and Lincoln (Bronx) serve the highest-need, most diverse populations. Travel LCSW and LMHC openings are consistent year-round.
New York State operates 24 psychiatric centers — large state hospitals treating the most severely mentally ill population. Pilgrim Psychiatric Center (Long Island), Creedmoor (Queens), and Rockland Psychiatric Center are the major sites. OMH contracts pay well and are typically year-round government placements.
NYC has 700+ OMH-licensed outpatient mental health clinics — the most of any city in the US. These Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Article 31 clinics serve Medicaid populations and consistently recruit travel LCSWs and LMHCs. Particularly high demand in the Bronx and Brooklyn.
Four major VA medical centers in NY: Manhattan VAMC, Brooklyn CBOC campus, Northport VAMC (Long Island), Bath VAMC (upstate). NY is home to one of the largest veteran populations in the US. VA behavioral health positions pay federal rates and hire LCSW and LPC/LMHC with clinical licensure.
NY Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) operates 50+ correctional facilities — predominantly upstate. DOCCS requires OMH mental health services at every facility. Highest-paying BH contracts in the state. Remote upstate locations (Attica, Auburn, Sing Sing) have persistent shortages.
HRSA designates Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas (MHPSAs) by county. In NYC, the shortage is worst in the Bronx — one of the highest MHPSA scores in the nation.
Shortage Level: Extreme
MHPSA: Highest (HRSA Score: 20)
Highest poverty rate, highest Medicaid enrollment, least access to private therapy — most acute shortage in NY
Shortage Level: Severe
MHPSA: Very High
Largest borough by population; high uninsured rate in specific neighborhoods; strong Spanish/Haitian Creole/Chinese-speaking clinician need
Shortage Level: High
MHPSA: High
Most diverse borough in the world; 138+ languages spoken; Elmhurst Hospital catchment area is among the most complex case mixes in the US
Shortage Level: Moderate–High
MHPSA: Moderate (varies by neighborhood)
Upper Manhattan (Washington Heights, Harlem) has MHPSA designation; Midtown and Lower Manhattan have better access
Shortage Level: Moderate
MHPSA: Moderate
Opioid epidemic was particularly severe; access to behavioral health services lower than other boroughs
LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) is the most universally in-demand credential across all NY behavioral health settings — hospitals, VA, CMHCs, and correctional facilities all prefer LCSW for clinical roles. LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor — NY's equivalent of LPC) is in high demand for CMHC and school-based settings. Psychiatric RNs are consistently needed in OMH state hospitals and inpatient units. Licensed Psychologists are needed for forensic and neuropsychological assessment.
Yes — NY accepts LCSW license endorsement from most other states. The process is managed by the NY Office of the Professions (op.nysed.gov). Requirements include a valid out-of-state clinical social work license, verification of supervised hours, and a background check. NY LCSW endorsement typically takes 6–10 weeks. Note: NY calls the clinical license "LCSW" (same as most states) — the New York State Social Work Licensing Compact is being actively pursued but is not fully enacted as of 2026.
Not yet — New York is not a current member of the Counseling Compact as of 2026. This means New York does not reciprocate Counseling Compact Privilege-to-Practice in NY, and NY-licensed LMHCs cannot use the Compact to practice in other states without individual endorsement. You must apply for a separate NY LMHC license (op.nysed.gov). The endorsement process takes approximately 6–10 weeks.
NYC behavioral health travel pay is among the highest in the country, reflecting the cost of living, shortage severity, and complexity of cases. LCSWs typically earn $1,800–$2,400/week total package (taxable base + tax-free housing stipend + meal stipend). LMHCs earn $1,700–$2,200/week. Psychiatric RNs earn $1,900–$2,600/week. NYC housing stipend GSA rates are among the highest nationally — the lodging component alone can be $3,800–$5,000/month tax-free.
Yes — NYC Health + Hospitals is one of the largest employers of travel LCSWs in the US. They use contract clinicians through staffing agencies (including CatSol) to fill gaps in their behavioral health, care management, and social work departments. Bellevue, Kings County, Elmhurst, and Lincoln campuses all have consistent LCSW travel openings. Travel contracts are typically 13 weeks with extension options. The multilingual patient population means bilingual Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Haitian Creole, and Bengali speakers are in especially high demand.
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CatSol's behavioral health team places LCSWs, LMHCs, LMFTs, and Psychiatric RNs in NYC public hospitals, OMH facilities, VA centers, and DOCCS correctional facilities across New York State.