California Social Worker Salary Guide - 2026

Social Worker License

by Social Worker License Staff

Updated: January 1st, 2026

California Social Worker Salaries – Visualized

Social Workers Salaries in urban areas of California

Metro Area# EmployedMean Salary
Bakersfield-Delano, CA170$71,250
Chico, CA30$108,370
Fresno, CA170$74,430
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA1,560$78,370
Merced, CA30$44,210
Modesto, CA30$96,190
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA110$71,980
Redding, CA40$83,220
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA420$90,470
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA480$82,790
Salinas, CA70$87,660
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA600$87,160
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA820$90,350
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA240$88,650
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA60$61,100
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA110N/A
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA50$71,290
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA80$81,920
Stockton-Lodi, CA70$94,320
Vallejo, CA90$94,680
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics - 2024

Social Workers Salaries in rural areas of California

Metro Area# EmployedMean Salary
North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area70$68,490
North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area50$72,920
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics - 2024

California Healthcare Social Worker Salaries – Visualized

 

Healthcare Social Workers Salaries in urban areas of California

Metro Area# EmployedMean Salary
Bakersfield-Delano, CA320$86,110
Chico, CA90$108,300
El Centro, CA30$79,790
Fresno, CA620$94,390
Hanford-Corcoran, CA40$77,330
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA7,960$95,490
Merced, CA50$82,150
Modesto, CA230$97,500
Napa, CA180$127,690
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA370$91,330
Redding, CA70$81,730
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA1,630$95,210
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA1,020$101,420
Salinas, CA130$94,690
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA1,520$86,960
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA2,730$107,590
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA790$110,570
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA180$116,180
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA110$93,600
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA190$89,600
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA190$109,110
Stockton-Lodi, CA210$91,250
Vallejo, CA170$113,040
Visalia, CA170$92,500
Yuba City, CA40$79,740
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics - 2024

Healthcare Social Workers Salaries in rural areas of California

Metro Area# EmployedMean Salary
North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area110$77,880
Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area60$77,820
North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area80$88,730
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics - 2024

California Mental Health Social Worker Salaries – Visualized

 

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salaries in urban areas of California

Metro Area# EmployedMean Salary
Bakersfield-Delano, CA250$82,380
Chico, CA40$65,490
El Centro, CA40$69,080
Fresno, CA570$80,080
Hanford-Corcoran, CA70$90,940
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA8,430$80,100
Merced, CA40$69,320
Modesto, CA160$78,080
Napa, CA220$87,580
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA220$76,660
Redding, CA80$76,260
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA1,490$89,230
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA1,210$84,710
Salinas, CA110$90,640
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA850$77,140
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA1,630$92,770
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA900$103,910
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA120$109,960
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA60$73,080
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA160$79,610
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA150$94,520
Stockton-Lodi, CA150$82,140
Vallejo, CA100$99,430
Visalia, CA140$81,520
Yuba City, CA30$58,980
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics - 2024

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salaries in rural areas of California

Metro Area# EmployedMean Salary
North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area100$73,460
Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area40$94,640
North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area50$72,540
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics - 2024

California Child, Family, and School Social Worker Salaries – Visualized

 

Child, Family, and School Social Workers Salaries in urban areas of California

Metro Area# EmployedMean Salary
Bakersfield-Delano, CA910$67,920
Chico, CA370$65,280
El Centro, CA150$61,070
Fresno, CA1,850$67,850
Hanford-Corcoran, CA130$73,230
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA23,100$76,320
Merced, CA480$59,690
Modesto, CA620$74,430
Napa, CA200$69,620
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA720$74,780
Redding, CA240$63,170
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA5,270$66,520
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA3,310$68,320
Salinas, CA370$75,150
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA4,330$68,340
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA5,700$79,860
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA2,090$85,500
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA360$69,600
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA390$66,550
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA420$64,310
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA710$61,930
Stockton-Lodi, CA670$72,460
Vallejo, CA290$72,460
Visalia, CA580$62,520
Yuba City, CA210$67,240
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics - 2024

Child, Family, and School Social Workers Salaries in rural areas of California

Metro Area# EmployedMean Salary
North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan areaNot released$64,360
Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area250$69,220
North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area400$62,660
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics - 2024

California Mental Health Counselor Salaries – Visualized

 

Mental Health Counselors Salaries in urban areas of California

Metro Area# EmployedMean Salary
Bakersfield-Delano, CA1,690$66,960
Chico, CA380$65,650
El Centro, CA160$69,960
Fresno, CA1,940$69,140
Hanford-Corcoran, CA190$73,590
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA23,330$69,630
Merced, CA300$65,810
Modesto, CA800$74,670
Napa, CA190$75,270
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA1,090$70,000
Redding, CA330$60,390
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA5,170$66,800
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA3,570$78,880
Salinas, CA640$70,500
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA5,010$68,560
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA8,080$83,140
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA2,520$80,380
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA510$71,460
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA470$65,070
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA800$74,540
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA690$78,220
Stockton-Lodi, CA1,050$79,640
Vallejo, CA570$82,490
Visalia, CA560$71,580
Yuba City, CA260$68,680
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics - 2024

Mental Health Counselors Salaries in rural areas of California

Metro Area# EmployedMean Salary
North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area510$65,360
Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area200$66,270
North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area530$71,400
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics - 2024