Social Workers, All Other Salary in California
The median pay for a social workers, all other in California is $70,440/year ($33.87/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $134K for experienced workers.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $70K get you in California?
About social workers, all others
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level social workers, all others (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $70K. Top earners bring in $134K or more, a $89K spread from bottom to top.
Social Workers, All Other salary by metro in California
19 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chico | $120K | +70% | 30 |
| Vallejo | $102K | +45% | 90 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $93K | +32% | 420 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $87K | +23% | 70 |
| Salinas | $82K | +16% | 70 |
| Modesto | $81K | +15% | 30 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $79K | +12% | 170 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $77K | +9% | 600 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $76K | +8% | 820 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $76K | +8% | 240 |
| Redding | $75K | +6% | 40 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $70K | -1% | 1,560 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $69K | -2% | 480 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $69K | -2% | 80 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $69K | -3% | 110 |
| Fresno | $64K | -10% | 170 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $61K | -14% | 50 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $53K | -24% | 60 |
| Merced | $37K | -47% | 30 |
Showing 1–10 of 19 metros
Compare to other states
Track social workers, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do social workers, all others make in California?
The median is $70,440 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,150, and experienced social workers, all others can clear $133,970. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $70K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,601/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 53.7% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a social workers, all other salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median social workers, all other salary is worth about $66,365 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do social workers, all others get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.