SOC 21-1022 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Healthcare Social Workers — Los Angeles
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Los Angeles, CA comes to $79,830 a year, ahead of the national median of $67,880 by 17.6%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Los Angeles, CA comes to $79,830 a year, ahead of the national median of $67,880 by 17.6%. Pay ranges from under $52,720 at the tenth percentile to more than $131,450 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $63,020 to $103,470.
The area has 6,340 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.84 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Napa records the highest median at $142,940. Of the 740 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 299th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $52,720 | −22.3% |
| 25th | $63,020 | −7.2% |
| Median (50th) | $79,830 | +17.6% |
| 75th | $103,470 | +52.4% |
| 90th | $131,450 | +93.7% |
| Mean | $89,170 | +31.4% |
Other 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 Los Angeles run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $79,830 buys what $72,114 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 6.2% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$79,830as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$72,114US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $79,830 a year, 17.6% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $52,720 to $131,450 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 6,340 jobs in 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 Los Angeles, CA?
The median annual wage is $79,830, or $38.38 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 Los Angeles, CA is 17.6% 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 Los Angeles, CA earns more than $131,450 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $52,720 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 6,340 jobs in this occupation in Los Angeles, CA. 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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