Clinical Social Worker salary in California
Clinical Social Workers in California earn a median of $44.70 per hour, about $92,970 a year, 37% above the U.S. median of $32.74. The middle half earn between $32.64 and $58.75 per hour. The highest median among California metro areas is in Napa, CA, at $68.03 per hour. Source: BLS, May 2024.
- $44.70median pay per hour
- $92,970median pay per year
- 19,680employed in California
- #1of 50 states by median pay
Clinical Social Worker pay in California: percentiles
| Level | California per hour | California per year | U.S. per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $24.87 | $51,730 | $21.65 |
| Lower quartile | $32.64 | $67,890 | $26.62 |
| Median | $44.70 | $92,970 | $32.74 |
| Upper quartile | $58.75 | $122,200 | $40.10 |
| Top 10% | $68.03 | $141,500 | $48.50 |
Clinical Social Worker pay by metro area in California
| Metro area | Median / hr | Median / year | Employed | vs California median | After cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Napa, CA | $68.03 | $141,490 | 180 | 52% above | $60.44 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $63.84 | $132,790 | 180 | 43% above | $58.79 |
| Vallejo, CA | $55.74 | $115,930 | 170 | 25% above | $51.38 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $55.04 | $114,480 | 190 | 23% above | $51.07 |
| Chico, CA | $52.90 | $110,030 | 90 | 18% above | $52.27 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $50.96 | $106,000 | 790 | 14% above | $46.15 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $49.73 | $103,440 | 2,730 | 11% above | $43.01 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $46.81 | $97,370 | 1,020 | 5% above | $43.88 |
| Salinas, CA | $46.56 | $96,840 | 130 | 4% above | $42.70 |
| Modesto, CA | $46.01 | $95,710 | 230 | 3% above | $44.19 |
| Visalia, CA | $45.16 | $93,920 | 170 | 1% above | $45.24 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $44.92 | $93,430 | 190 | in line with | $41.29 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $44.82 | $93,230 | 110 | in line with | $40.78 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $44.61 | $92,790 | 1,630 | in line with | $41.91 |
| Fresno, CA | $44.06 | $91,640 | 620 | 1% below | $43.13 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $42.26 | $87,890 | 210 | 5% below | $40.21 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $41.24 | $85,770 | 7,960 | 8% below | $36.31 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $40.84 | $84,940 | 320 | 9% below | $40.48 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $39.96 | $83,120 | 1,520 | 11% below | $35.71 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $39.89 | $82,970 | 370 | 11% below | $36.09 |
| Merced, CA | $39.63 | $82,430 | 50 | 11% below | $40.33 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $39.54 | $82,240 | 40 | 12% below | $38.91 |
| Yuba City, CA | $38.64 | $80,370 | 40 | 14% below | $37.07 |
| El Centro, CA | $37.58 | $78,160 | 30 | 16% below | — |
| Redding, CA | $36.72 | $76,380 | 70 | 18% below | $36.47 |
Metro areas with 30 or more workers in the BLS sample. After cost of living divides the median by the BEA regional price index (U.S. = 100).
Clinical Social Worker pay in states next to California
What employers are posting in California
- 56roles with published pay
- $55.64median pay per hour
- $43–$71typical published range
- 17employers hiring
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Health Administration | 13 | $63.41 |
| Sharp HealthCare | 5 | $54.52 |
| CommonSpirit Health | 4 | $52.78 |
| Stanford Children's Health | 4 | $63.02 |
| Central Maine Healthcare Corporation | 4 | $35.68 |
| El Camino Health | 4 | $66.11 |
| BrightSpring Health Services | 4 | $62.50 |
| Sharp Healthcare | 4 | $53.12 |
Midpoints of pay ranges in 56 postings collected October 15, 2026. Posted pay is a different measure from the BLS survey above and can run higher or lower.
Clinical Social Worker jobs in California · Clinical Social Worker salary nationwide · California state guide
Common questions
How much does a clinical social worker make in California?
The median is $44.70 per hour, about $92,970 a year. The lowest 10% earn under $24.87 and the top 10% earn over $68.03 (BLS, May 2024).
Which California city pays clinical social workers the most?
Among California metro areas, Napa, CA has the highest median at $68.03 per hour. See the metro table for the rest and for pay after cost of living.
Where does California rank for clinical social worker pay?
California ranks 1st of 50 states by median clinical social worker pay.
Is this the same as the pay in job postings?
No. BLS figures come from a survey of employers and cover all workers in the occupation. Posted pay is the range an employer lists on one open role. Both are useful: use the survey for the market and the posting for a specific job.
What do employers near you pay clinical social workers? Get the report.
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- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
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Your Social Worker pay reportCalifornia · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- El Camino HealthMountain View, CA · 4 postings$66.11/ hr$57–$75
- Veterans Health AdministrationLos Angeles, CA · 13 postings$63.41/ hr$32–$77
- Stanford Children's HealthPALO ALTO, CA · 4 postings$63.02/ hr$59–$68
- BrightSpring Health ServicesSAN DIEGO, CA · 4 postings$62.50/ hr$60–$65
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.
2What they are offering now
56 Social Worker postings with published pay in California, 51 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 56 Social Worker roles
- Senior Social Worker (Acute Mental Health ED)Permanent$115k–$149k/ year
- Social Worker, LCSWPermanent$99k–$143k/ year
+ 54 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.