Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary in Salinas, CA
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in the Salinas, CA metro area earn a median of $97,200 a year ($46.73 an hour), based on BLS data for 100 workers.
Pay ranges from $50,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $129,120 for the top 10%. That is 61% higher than the national median of $60,280. Pay here is 23% higher than the California statewide median of $79,000. There are 0.54 mental health and substance abuse social workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.63). The average (mean) salary is $93,880, close to the median.
Pay range for mental health and substance abuse social workers in Salinas, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,640 | $24.35 |
| 25th percentile | $63,650 | $30.60 |
| Median | $97,200 | $46.73 |
| 75th percentile | $123,120 | $59.19 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $129,120 | $62.08 |
| Average (mean) | $93,880 | $45.14 |
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 | $8,100 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,050 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,738.46 |
| Weekly | $1,869.23 |
| Hourly | $46.73 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $97,200 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 Salinas, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | $73,940 | $35.55 |
| Social and Human Service Assistants | $50,630 | $24.34 |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $62,520 | $30.06 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $100,360 | $48.25 |
| Counselors, All Other | $48,200 | $23.17 |
| Rehabilitation Counselor | $36,310 | $17.46 |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | $51,150 | $24.59 |
| Healthcare Social Worker | $92,540 | $44.49 |
| Marriage and Family Therapists | $65,930 | $31.70 |
| Health Education Specialist | $62,760 | $30.18 |
| Community Health Worker | $56,810 | $27.31 |
| Social Workers, All Other | $62,330 | $29.97 |
| Clergy | $73,770 | $35.46 |
More: Community and Social Service Occupations · all salaries in Salinas, 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 Salinas, CA?
The median salary for mental health and substance abuse social workers in the Salinas, CA metro area is $97,200 a year, or $46.73 an hour. Pay ranges from $50,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $129,120 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid mental health and substance abuse social workers make in Salinas, CA?
The top 10% of mental health and substance abuse social workers in the Salinas, CA metro area earn at least $129,120 a year. The top 25% earn $123,120 or more.
What is the starting pay for mental health and substance abuse social workers in Salinas, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $50,640 a year, and a quarter of mental health and substance abuse social workers earn $63,650 or less.
How many mental health and substance abuse social workers work in Salinas, CA?
About 100 mental health and substance abuse social workers are employed in the Salinas, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.