Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers pay in California
In California, the median pay for mental health and substance abuse social workers is $37.98 an hour ($79,000 a year). About 19,860 people work in this job there.
That is 31% higher than the U.S. median ($60,280). California ranks 2nd of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for mental health and substance abuse social workers in California
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $22.33 | $46,450 |
| 25% of workers | $27.79 | $57,800 |
| Half of workers (median) | $37.98 | $79,000 |
| 75% of workers | $57.14 | $118,860 |
| 90% of workers | $70.82 | $147,300 |
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers pay in California metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Vallejo | $122,930 | 120 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $109,050 | 1,010 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $98,800 | 140 |
| Salinas | $97,200 | 100 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $91,730 | 80 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $87,550 | 1,990 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $87,370 | 1,310 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $84,190 | 160 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $83,150 | 1,330 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $81,240 | 160 |
| Modesto | $78,880 | 170 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $78,410 | 9,380 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $77,770 | 150 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $77,500 | 260 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $75,570 | 1,030 |
| Napa | $68,830 | 230 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $64,990 | 340 |
| Fresno | $64,910 | 620 |
| Redding | $64,760 | 80 |
| Visalia | $64,540 | 170 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $62,680 | 70 |
| Merced | $59,500 | 40 |
| Yuba City | $56,790 | 40 |
| Chico | $56,030 | 50 |
| El Centro | $48,770 | 50 |
California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for mental health and substance abuse social workers
- Typical education to start: Master's degree (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 2 to 4 years (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Internship/residency (BLS)
- Job outlook: +10.3% over ten years, much faster than average · about 12,500 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in California
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.