Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary in Merced, CA
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in the Merced, CA metro area earn a median of $59,500 a year ($28.61 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,580 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $60,280. Pay here is 25% lower than the California statewide median of $79,000. There are 0.52 mental health and substance abuse social workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.60). The average (mean) salary is $66,010, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for mental health and substance abuse social workers in Merced, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,310 | $23.23 |
| 25th percentile | $50,380 | $24.22 |
| Median | $59,500 | $28.61 |
| 75th percentile | $75,470 | $36.29 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $92,580 | $44.51 |
| Average (mean) | $66,010 | $31.74 |
Half of mental health and substance abuse 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 | $4,958.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,479.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,288.46 |
| Weekly | $1,144.23 |
| Hourly | $28.61 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $59,500 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Vallejo, CA | $122,930 | 120 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $109,050 | 1,010 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $98,800 | 140 |
| Salinas, CA | $97,200 | 100 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $91,730 | 80 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $87,550 | 1,990 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $87,370 | 1,310 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $84,190 | 160 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $83,150 | 1,330 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $81,240 | 160 |
| Modesto, CA | $78,880 | 170 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $78,410 | 9,380 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $77,770 | 150 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $77,500 | 260 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $75,570 | 1,030 |
| Napa, CA | $68,830 | 230 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $64,990 | 340 |
| Fresno, CA | $64,910 | 620 |
| Redding, CA | $64,760 | 80 |
| Visalia, CA | $64,540 | 170 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $62,680 | 70 |
| Yuba City, CA | $56,790 | 40 |
| Chico, CA | $56,030 | 50 |
| El Centro, CA | $48,770 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for mental health and substance abuse social workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $79,380 |
| California | $79,000 |
| Connecticut | $78,640 |
| Minnesota | $75,020 |
| Maryland | $73,580 |
| District of Columbia | $73,310 |
| Vermont | $73,210 |
| Washington | $70,460 |
| Oregon | $68,210 |
| New Jersey | $66,590 |
See Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Merced, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $60,200 | $28.94 |
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | $60,780 | $29.22 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $83,020 | $39.91 |
| Social and Human Service Assistants | $48,410 | $23.28 |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | $53,620 | $25.78 |
| Healthcare Social Worker | $74,880 | $36.00 |
| Rehabilitation Counselor | $39,640 | $19.06 |
| Health Education Specialist | $79,830 | $38.38 |
More: Community and Social Service Occupations · all salaries in Merced, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 21-1023. 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 mental health and substance abuse social workers make in Merced, CA?
The median salary for mental health and substance abuse social workers in the Merced, CA metro area is $59,500 a year, or $28.61 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,580 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid mental health and substance abuse social workers make in Merced, CA?
The top 10% of mental health and substance abuse social workers in the Merced, CA metro area earn at least $92,580 a year. The top 25% earn $75,470 or more.
What is the starting pay for mental health and substance abuse social workers in Merced, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,310 a year, and a quarter of mental health and substance abuse social workers earn $50,380 or less.
How many mental health and substance abuse social workers work in Merced, CA?
About 40 mental health and substance abuse social workers are employed in the Merced, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.