Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary in California
State wage data from the BLS OEWS survey, May 2025.
Median annual
$79,000
Median hourly
$38
Average annual
$91,050
Employed in state
20K
The median annual salary for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in California is $79,000, or about $38 an hour. That is 31% higher than the national median.
Pay in California ranges from $46,450 at the 10th percentile to $147,300 at the 90th percentile. Roughly 20K people work as mental health and substance abuse social workers in the state.
Pay distribution in California
10th$46,450
25th$57,800
Median$79,000
75th$118,860
90th$147,300
Salary calculator
- Hourly
- $37.98
- Daily
- $304
- Weekly
- $1,519
- Bi-weekly
- $3,038
- Monthly
- $6,583
- Annual
- $79,000
$79,000 a year is around the 50th percentile for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workerss in California. The median is $79,000.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers pay by metro area in California
| Metro area | Median annual | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Vallejo, CA | $122,930 | 120 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $109,050 | 1.0K |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $98,800 | 140 |
| Salinas, CA | $97,200 | 100 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $91,730 | 80 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $87,550 | 2.0K |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $87,370 | 1.3K |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $84,190 | 160 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $83,150 | 1.3K |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $81,240 | 160 |
| Modesto, CA | $78,880 | 170 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $78,410 | 9.4K |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $77,770 | 150 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $77,500 | 260 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $75,570 | 1.0K |
Other jobs in California
- Home Health and Personal Care Aides$35,800
- Fast Food and Counter Workers$31,200
- Retail Salespersons$35,410
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$40,240
- Registered Nurses$97,550
- Cashiers$32,880
- Office Clerks, General$45,010
- Stockers and Order Fillers$37,330
- General and Operations Managers$105,770
- Software Developers$135,980
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$36,840
- Waiters and Waitresses$35,230
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$58,640
- Security Guards$38,020
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$36,780
- Customer Service Representatives$44,770
- Accountants and Auditors$83,680
- Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$35,660
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$47,540
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$69,990