Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers pay in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
In San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (CA), the median pay for mental health and substance abuse social workers is $52.43 an hour ($109,050 a year). About 1,010 people work in this job there.
That is 81% higher than the U.S. median ($60,280). It is 38% higher than the California median ($79,000).
Pay range for mental health and substance abuse social workers in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (CA)
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $30.40 | $63,230 |
| 25% of workers | $35.26 | $73,340 |
| Half of workers (median) | $52.43 | $109,050 |
| 75% of workers | $70.36 | $146,360 |
| 90% of workers | $98.00 | $203,830 |
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 (this page) | $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 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (CA)
Other job titles for this job
Open mental health and substance abuse social workers jobs on JAI Bot
No open jobs in this field right now. Search all jobs or set up a free job alert.
Hiring mental health and substance abuse social workers? Use the free hiring guide for a job description and interview questions, then post the job on JAI Bot. Every job shows typical pay to job seekers.
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.