California Median
$79,000
per year
Hourly Rate
$37.98
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+31% vs US median
US median $60,280
State Rank
#2 of 51
19,860 employed here
How much do Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers make in California?
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in California take home a median of $79,000 annually — roughly $37.98 an hour — which runs 31% above the national median of $60,280.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $46,450 while the top 10% make $147,300 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $57,800 and $118,860 a year.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,450 | $22.33 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $57,800 | $27.79 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $79,000 | $37.98 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $118,860 | $57.14 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $147,300 | $70.82 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 2nd out of 51 states and territories for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary in other states
New York $79,380Connecticut $78,640Minnesota $75,020Maryland $73,580District of Columbia $73,310Vermont $73,210Washington $70,460Oregon $68,210New Jersey $66,590New Mexico $65,640Colorado $65,620Virginia $64,240New Hampshire $63,900Nevada $62,900Massachusetts $62,500Wisconsin $61,860Rhode Island $60,990North Dakota $60,980Michigan $60,830Delaware $60,060Wyoming $59,310Arkansas $58,590North Carolina $58,210Maine $57,050Alaska $56,710Kansas $56,330Hawaii $54,390Idaho $52,520Georgia $52,030Florida $51,590Utah $50,770West Virginia $50,070Illinois $49,960Missouri $49,560Mississippi $48,970South Dakota $48,920Iowa $48,530Indiana $48,300Pennsylvania $48,290Louisiana $47,100Texas $46,630Tennessee $46,500Arizona $46,380Ohio $46,080Montana $45,160Nebraska $43,240Oklahoma $43,120Kentucky $42,570Alabama $41,500South Carolina $39,930
Working as Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in California
Nationally, about 133,000 people work as Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in the United States. A master's degree (usually 5 to 6 years of college) is typically required.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($79,000) 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 Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers make in California?
The median Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary in California is $79,000 per year, or about $37.98 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $46,450 at the entry level to $147,300 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers about 31% more than the national median of $60,280. California ranks 2nd out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $79,000 a year. About 19,860 Mental Health and Substance Abuse 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 Mental Health and Substance Abuse 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.