SOC 21-1023 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers — San Diego
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in San Diego, CA is $75,570 per year, well above the national median of $60,280.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in San Diego, CA is $75,570 per year, well above the national median of $60,280. The gap of 25.4% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Pay ranges from under $50,010 at the tenth percentile to more than $130,620 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $57,740 to $106,270.
Employment stands at 1,030, or 0.7 jobs per thousand held locally. Vallejo leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $122,930. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 306th of 671 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $50,010 | −17.0% |
| 25th | $57,740 | −4.2% |
| Median (50th) | $75,570 | +25.4% |
| 75th | $106,270 | +76.3% |
| 90th | $130,620 | +116.7% |
| Mean | $84,200 | +39.7% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vallejo | $122,930 | 120 | |
| 2 | San Jose | $109,050 | 1,010 | |
| 3 | San Luis Obispo | $98,800 | 140 | |
| 4 | Salinas | $97,200 | 100 | |
| 5 | Hanford | $91,730 | 80 | |
| 6 | San Francisco | $87,550 | 1,990 | |
| 7 | Riverside | $87,370 | 1,310 | |
| 8 | Santa Rosa | $84,190 | 160 | |
| 9 | Sacramento | $83,150 | 1,330 | |
| 10 | Santa Maria | $81,240 | 160 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in San Diego run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $75,570 buys what $68,266 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 13.2% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$75,570as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$68,266US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $75,570 a year, 25.4% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $50,010 to $130,620 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,030 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Vallejo, at $122,930.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in San Diego, CA?
The median annual wage is $75,570, or $36.33 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 $60,280, so pay in San Diego, CA is 25.4% 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 San Diego, CA earns more than $130,620 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $50,010 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 Vallejo, at $122,930 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,030 jobs in this occupation in San Diego, 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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