Social and Human Service Assistants salary in California
Social and Human Service Assistants in California earn a median of $51,090 a year ($24.56 an hour), based on BLS data for 58,730 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $74,250 for the top 10%. That is 11% higher than the national median of $45,930. California ranks 4th of 51 states for social and human service assistants pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 3.2 social and human service assistants per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $55,100, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for social and human service assistants in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,040 | $18.77 |
| 25th percentile | $46,110 | $22.17 |
| Median | $51,090 | $24.56 |
| 75th percentile | $61,450 | $29.54 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $74,250 | $35.70 |
| Average (mean) | $55,100 | $26.49 |
Half of social and human service assistants 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 | $4,257.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,128.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,965 |
| Weekly | $982.50 |
| Hourly | $24.56 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $51,090 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Social and Human Service Assistants salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $60,650 | 1,930 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $58,580 | 790 |
| Napa, CA | $58,470 | 230 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $57,580 | 7,970 |
| Modesto, CA | $55,330 | 710 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $55,160 | 710 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $54,960 | 330 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $54,870 | 390 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $53,810 | 3,190 |
| Yuba City, CA | $52,750 | 270 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $52,180 | 940 |
| Vallejo, CA | $50,650 | 480 |
| Salinas, CA | $50,630 | 550 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $50,330 | 18,790 |
| Visalia, CA | $50,300 | 530 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $49,500 | 6,400 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $49,070 | 810 |
| Chico, CA | $48,890 | 380 |
| Redding, CA | $48,530 | 390 |
| Merced, CA | $48,410 | 300 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $48,370 | 5,100 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $48,280 | 1,920 |
| Fresno, CA | $47,260 | 1,960 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $46,310 | 260 |
| El Centro, CA | $45,140 | 320 |
Highest-paying states for social and human service assistants
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $59,460 |
| Washington | $54,770 |
| Oregon | $51,230 |
| California | $51,090 |
| Minnesota | $49,940 |
| New Jersey | $48,420 |
| Rhode Island | $47,720 |
| Maine | $47,710 |
| Colorado | $47,690 |
| Idaho | $47,540 |
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 |
| 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 |
| Healthcare Social Worker | $89,660 | $43.11 |
| 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 21-1093. 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 social and human service assistants make in California?
The median salary for social and human service assistants in California is $51,090 a year, or $24.56 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $74,250 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid social and human service assistants make in California?
The top 10% of social and human service assistants in California earn at least $74,250 a year. The top 25% earn $61,450 or more.
What is the starting pay for social and human service assistants in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,040 a year, and a quarter of social and human service assistants earn $46,110 or less.
How many social and human service assistants work in California?
About 58,730 social and human service assistants are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.