SOC 21-1022 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Healthcare Social Workers — California
California · 10 metro areas compared
In California the median wage for Healthcare Social Workers reaches $89,660 a year.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In California the median wage for Healthcare Social Workers reaches $89,660 a year. That is 32.1% more than the national median of $67,880. Pay ranges from under $54,220 at the tenth percentile to more than $134,880 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $67,630 to $118,740.
Employment stands at 17,690, or 1.0 jobs per thousand held locally. California ranks number 2nd out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Napa records the highest median at $142,940. Of the 793 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 259th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $54,220 | −20.1% |
| 25th | $67,630 | −0.4% |
| Median (50th) | $89,660 | +32.1% |
| 75th | $118,740 | +74.9% |
| 90th | $134,880 | +98.7% |
| Mean | $93,840 | +38.2% |
Highest-paying metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Napa | $142,940 | 160 | |
| 2 | San Luis Obispo | $133,340 | 170 | |
| 3 | Vallejo | $122,450 | 160 | |
| 4 | Santa Rosa | $108,530 | 280 | |
| 5 | San Jose | $107,170 | 770 | |
| 6 | San Francisco | $99,640 | 2,740 | |
| 7 | Sacramento | $97,070 | 1,030 | |
| 8 | Visalia | $96,790 | 190 | |
| 9 | Modesto | $95,250 | 220 | |
| 10 | Santa Maria | $93,200 | 150 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in California run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $89,660 buys what $80,994 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 19.3% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$89,660as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$80,994US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $89,660 a year, 32.1% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $54,220 to $134,880 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 17,690 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 2nd of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Napa, at $142,940.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Healthcare Social Workers in California?
The median annual wage is $89,660, or $43.11 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $67,880, so pay in California is 32.1% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in California earns more than $134,880 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $54,220 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Napa, at $142,940 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 17,690 jobs in this occupation in California. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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