Healthcare Social Worker salary in California
Healthcare Social Workers in California earn a median of $89,660 a year ($43.11 an hour), based on BLS data for 17,690 workers.
Pay ranges from $54,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $134,880 for the top 10%. That is 32% higher than the national median of $67,880. California ranks 2nd of 51 states for healthcare social workers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.97 healthcare social workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.80). The average (mean) salary is $93,840, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for healthcare social workers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $54,220 | $26.07 |
| 25th percentile | $67,630 | $32.52 |
| Median | $89,660 | $43.11 |
| 75th percentile | $118,740 | $57.09 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $134,880 | $64.85 |
| Average (mean) | $93,840 | $45.11 |
Half of healthcare social workers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $7,471.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,735.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,448.46 |
| Weekly | $1,724.23 |
| Hourly | $43.11 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $89,660 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Healthcare Social Worker salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Napa, CA | $142,940 | 160 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $133,340 | 170 |
| Vallejo, CA | $122,450 | 160 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $108,530 | 280 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $107,170 | 770 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $99,640 | 2,740 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $97,070 | 1,030 |
| Visalia, CA | $96,790 | 190 |
| Modesto, CA | $95,250 | 220 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $93,200 | 150 |
| Salinas, CA | $92,540 | 140 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $91,820 | 200 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $89,430 | 100 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $87,570 | 230 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $85,360 | 1,430 |
| Fresno, CA | $84,860 | 610 |
| Chico, CA | $84,810 | 90 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $83,940 | 40 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $82,630 | 1,440 |
| Redding, CA | $81,220 | 60 |
| El Centro, CA | $80,710 | 30 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $79,830 | 6,340 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $77,450 | 310 |
| Merced, CA | $74,880 | 50 |
| Yuba City, CA | $74,310 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for healthcare social workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $94,100 |
| California | $89,660 |
| Hawaii | $85,420 |
| Oregon | $84,350 |
| New Jersey | $82,690 |
| Vermont | $81,140 |
| Connecticut | $79,900 |
| Washington | $78,570 |
| Nevada | $78,470 |
| New Hampshire | $78,260 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | $59,250 | $28.48 |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $65,200 | $31.35 |
| Social and Human Service Assistants | $51,090 | $24.56 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $86,500 | $41.59 |
| Marriage and Family Therapists | $67,300 | $32.35 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | $79,000 | $37.98 |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | $58,770 | $28.26 |
| Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists | $103,640 | $49.83 |
| Rehabilitation Counselor | $44,480 | $21.38 |
| Health Education Specialist | $63,610 | $30.58 |
| Counselors, All Other | $48,850 | $23.49 |
| Community Health Worker | $58,050 | $27.91 |
| Social Workers, All Other | $63,010 | $30.29 |
| Clergy | $77,710 | $37.36 |
More: Community and Social Service Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 21-1022. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a healthcare social worker make in California?
The median salary for healthcare social workers in California is $89,660 a year, or $43.11 an hour. Pay ranges from $54,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $134,880 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid healthcare social workers make in California?
The top 10% of healthcare social workers in California earn at least $134,880 a year. The top 25% earn $118,740 or more.
What is the starting pay for healthcare social workers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $54,220 a year, and a quarter of healthcare social workers earn $67,630 or less.
How many healthcare social workers work in California?
About 17,690 healthcare social workers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.