California Median
$65,200
per year
Hourly Rate
$31.35
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+9% vs US median
US median $59,550
State Rank
#12 of 51
60,310 employed here
How much do Child, Family, and School Social Workers make in California?
Child, Family, and School Social Workers in California take home a median of $65,200 annually — roughly $31.35 an hour — which runs 9% above the national median of $59,550.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $45,360 while the top 10% make $103,050 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $52,270 and $82,080 a year.
Child, Family, and School Social Workers salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,360 | $21.81 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $52,270 | $25.13 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $65,200 | $31.35 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $82,080 | $39.46 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $103,050 | $49.54 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 12th out of 51 states and territories for Child, Family, and School Social Workers pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Child, Family, and School Social Workers salary in other states
Connecticut $78,970Maryland $76,390New Jersey $76,280Massachusetts $75,570Washington $74,480District of Columbia $73,550New Hampshire $71,010Rhode Island $69,870Hawaii $68,270Minnesota $67,450Vermont $67,340New York $65,100North Dakota $64,560Oregon $64,130Colorado $63,720Maine $63,290Illinois $63,220Alaska $62,630Virginia $61,330Nevada $61,080Idaho $59,840North Carolina $59,610Wisconsin $59,280Michigan $59,270Kentucky $59,100Louisiana $56,800Montana $56,780Florida $56,550Wyoming $56,420Tennessee $56,310New Mexico $56,160Texas $55,680Kansas $54,300Iowa $52,250West Virginia $52,220Utah $52,000South Carolina $51,800Ohio $51,520South Dakota $51,100Pennsylvania $50,820Indiana $50,470Arizona $50,150Delaware $48,520Missouri $48,520Nebraska $47,770Georgia $47,510Alabama $46,660Mississippi $46,530Oklahoma $43,950Arkansas $43,330
Working as Child, Family, and School Social Workers in California
Nationally, about 393,000 people work as Child, Family, and School Social Workers in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($65,200) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Child, Family, and School Social Workers make in California?
The median Child, Family, and School Social Workers salary in California is $65,200 per year, or about $31.35 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $45,360 at the entry level to $103,050 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Child, Family, and School Social Workers about 9% more than the national median of $59,550. California ranks 12th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Child, Family, and School Social Workers?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $65,200 a year. About 60,310 Child, Family, and School Social Workers are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Child, Family, and School Social Workers salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.