Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary in Modesto, CA
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in the Modesto, CA metro area earn a median of $78,880 a year ($37.92 an hour), based on BLS data for 170 workers.
Pay ranges from $50,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $180,810 for the top 10%. That is 31% higher than the national median of $60,280. Pay here is about the same as the California statewide median of $79,000. There are 0.89 mental health and substance abuse social workers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $96,890, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for mental health and substance abuse social workers in Modesto, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,810 | $24.43 |
| 25th percentile | $56,300 | $27.07 |
| Median | $78,880 | $37.92 |
| 75th percentile | $128,390 | $61.73 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $180,810 | $86.93 |
| Average (mean) | $96,890 | $46.58 |
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 | $6,573.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,286.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,033.85 |
| Weekly | $1,516.92 |
| Hourly | $37.92 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $78,880 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 |
| 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 |
| Merced, CA | $59,500 | 40 |
| 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 Modesto, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | $62,700 | $30.14 |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $60,900 | $29.28 |
| Social and Human Service Assistants | $55,330 | $26.60 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $94,370 | $45.37 |
| Marriage and Family Therapists | $69,680 | $33.50 |
| Healthcare Social Worker | $95,250 | $45.79 |
| Health Education Specialist | $61,670 | $29.65 |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | $60,950 | $29.31 |
| Rehabilitation Counselor | $44,270 | $21.29 |
| Community Health Worker | $60,800 | $29.23 |
| Counselors, All Other | $47,360 | $22.77 |
| Social Workers, All Other | $102,180 | $49.13 |
| Clergy | $65,360 | $31.42 |
| Directors, Religious Activities and Education | $47,110 | $22.65 |
More: Community and Social Service Occupations · all salaries in Modesto, 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 Modesto, CA?
The median salary for mental health and substance abuse social workers in the Modesto, CA metro area is $78,880 a year, or $37.92 an hour. Pay ranges from $50,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $180,810 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid mental health and substance abuse social workers make in Modesto, CA?
The top 10% of mental health and substance abuse social workers in the Modesto, CA metro area earn at least $180,810 a year. The top 25% earn $128,390 or more.
What is the starting pay for mental health and substance abuse social workers in Modesto, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $50,810 a year, and a quarter of mental health and substance abuse social workers earn $56,300 or less.
How many mental health and substance abuse social workers work in Modesto, CA?
About 170 mental health and substance abuse social workers are employed in the Modesto, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.