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Social worker salary in California

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$89,660median pay per year in California, or $43.11 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $54,220lowest 10% earn less
  2. $67,63025th percentile
  3. $89,660median
  4. $118,74075th percentile
  5. $134,880top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $67,880[3]

The median pay for social workers in California was $89,660 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $21,780 above the US median[6].

Jobs in CA
17,690[4]
Rank by median pay
2 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
+32.1%[6]

How much do social workers make in California?

The median is the middle point. Half of social workers in California earned more than $89,660 a year, or $43.11 an hour, and half earned less[1]. The average was a bit higher at $93,840 a year[7]. Across the US, the median was $67,880, so California sits $21,780 (32.1%) higher[3][6]. California also ranked 2nd among the 50 states and DC for this median[5]. Compared with all jobs in the state, the median for social workers was $31,420 higher than the $58,240 all-jobs median[8][9].

At the low end, the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $54,220[2]. The 25th percentile was $67,630[2]. At the high end, the 75th percentile was $118,740, and the top-paid 10% earned more than $134,880[2].

Pay differs by place. Among metro areas with published figures, Napa had the highest median at $142,940[10]. Among the metros with the largest job counts, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara showed $107,170 and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont showed $99,640, while Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim showed $79,830[11]. OEWS counts people paid a wage or salary. It leaves out the self-employed, and it does not add bonuses or the cost of benefits such as health insurance[12].

California vs US pay

Pay for social workers in California next to the national figures[1][3].

CAUS
Median per year$89,660[1]$67,880[3]
Median per hour$43.11[1]$32.63[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$54,220[2]$46,220[13]
Top 10% earn more than$134,880[2]$100,360[13]
Jobs17,690[4]187,630[3]

Pay by metro area in California

Metro areas in California with the most jobs for social workers, and the median pay in each[11].

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA[11]$79,8306,340
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$99,6402,740
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$82,6301,440
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$85,3601,430
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$97,0701,030
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$107,170770
Fresno, CA$84,860610
Bakersfield-Delano, CA$77,450310

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for social workers in the states that border California, highest first[14].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Oregon[14]$84,3502,320
Nevada$78,4701,160
Arizona$64,0303,100

Median pay for social workers in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for social workers are projected to grow 8.5% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: master's degree[16].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a social worker make in California?
The median was $89,660 a year in May 2025, and the average was $93,840[1][7]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $54,220, and the top 10% earned more than $134,880[2].
How much does a social worker make an hour in California?
The median was $43.11 an hour[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $26.07 an hour, and the top-paid 10% earned more than $64.85[2][17].
Which city in California pays social workers the most?
Napa had the highest median among California metro areas with published figures, at $142,940 a year[10]. Of the larger metros, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara showed $107,170[11].
Is California a good state for social workers?
On pay, California ranked 2nd among the 50 states and DC for the median wage for this job[5]. Its median of $89,660 was 32.1% above the US median[1][6].
What do you need to become a social worker in California?
Across the US, the typical entry education is a master's degree, with no work experience needed and internship or residency training[16]. This is a US figure, not a California one.

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Healthcare Social Workers in California was $89,660 per year and $43.11 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Healthcare Social Workers in California: 10th percentile $54,220, 25th percentile $67,630, 75th percentile $118,740, 90th percentile $134,880. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Healthcare Social Workers in the US as a whole was $67,880 per year and $32.63 per hour, with about 187,630 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 17,690 people worked as Healthcare Social Workers in California (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: California had the 2nd highest median annual wage for Healthcare Social Workers out of the 50 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Healthcare Social Workers in California ($89,660) was $21,780 (32.1%) higher than the US median ($67,880). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Healthcare Social Workers in California was $93,840 per year and $45.11 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in California was $58,240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Healthcare Social Workers in California was $31,420 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($58,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 25 metro areas in or partly in California with a published median for Healthcare Social Workers, Napa, CA had the highest median annual wage, $142,940. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Healthcare Social Workers in the US: 10th percentile $46,220, 25th percentile $56,710, 75th percentile $82,240, 90th percentile $100,360. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Healthcare Social Workers in states that border California (highest first): Oregon $84,350; Nevada $78,470; Arizona $64,030. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Healthcare Social Workers is projected to grow 8.5% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 16,900 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Healthcare Social Workers: education needed for entry: Master's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Internship/residency. BLS Employment Projections
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Healthcare Social Workers in California: 10th percentile $26.07, 25th percentile $32.52, 75th percentile $57.09, 90th percentile $64.85. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only California. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.