Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary in California
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in California earn a median annual wage of $79,000 —31.1% above the national median of $60,280. That ranks CA #2 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.
Wage distribution
How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.
Employment is 1.28× as concentrated as the national average, making California a strong market for this occupation.
Highest-paying states for mental health and substance abuse social workers
All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $79,380 | $38.16 | 14,820 | 1.79 |
| 2 | California | $79,000 | $37.98 | 19,860 | 1.28 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $78,640 | $37.81 | 1,540 | 1.06 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $75,020 | $36.07 | 3,590 | 1.42 |
| 5 | Maryland | $73,580 | $35.37 | 2,250 | 0.95 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $73,310 | $35.25 | 510 | 0.85 |
| 7 | Vermont | $73,210 | $35.20 | 320 | 1.24 |
| 8 | Washington | $70,460 | $33.88 | 3,490 | 1.15 |
| 9 | Oregon | $68,210 | $32.79 | 2,230 | 1.33 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $66,590 | $32.02 | 2,420 | 0.66 |
Related occupations in California
Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.
| Occupation | California median | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | $59,250 | $59,350 |
| Social and Human Service Assistants | $51,090 | $45,930 |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $65,200 | $59,550 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $86,500 | $64,330 |
| Healthcare Social Workers | $89,660 | $67,880 |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | $58,770 | $56,730 |
Frequently asked questions
How much do mental health and substance abuse social workers make in California?
The median annual wage for mental health and substance abuse social workers in California is $79,000, or $37.98 per hour. That is 31.1% above the national median of $60,280.
What is the entry-level mental health and substance abuse social workers salary in California?
Workers at the 10th percentile earn $46,450 per year ($22.33/hour). The 25th percentile is $57,800.
How many people work as mental health and substance abuse social workers in California?
About 19,860 people work in this occupation in California, or 1.1 per 1,000 jobs statewide.
Is California a good state for mental health and substance abuse social workers?
California ranks #2 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.28x as concentrated as the national average, making California a strong market for this occupation.
Which state pays mental health and substance abuse social workers the most?
New York has the highest median wage at $79,380 per year, followed by California ($79,000) and Connecticut ($78,640).