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Social Worker Salary in California

Explore social worker salaries in California including median pay, entry-level and senior compensation, and how it compares to the national average.

Median Salary in CA
$86,477
Monthly: $7,206
Biweekly: $3,326
Entry Level
$52,504
Monthly: $4,375
Biweekly: $2,019
Senior Level
$120,449
Monthly: $10,037
Biweekly: $4,633
Job Growth
14%
Projected 10-year growth

Salary Breakdown

Pay PeriodEntry LevelMedianSenior
Annual$52,504$86,477$120,449
Monthly$4,375$7,206$10,037
Biweekly$2,019$3,326$4,633
Weekly$1,010$1,663$2,316
Hourly$25$42$58

CA vs National Comparison

National Median
$67,560
CA Median
$86,477
Difference
+$18,917
Multiplier
1.28x
National
CA

About This Career

Help individuals and families address social and personal issues.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Social Work; Master's degree often required

Key Skills

CounselingCase ManagementCommunicationProblem Solving

Compare States

See how California compares to other states for social worker salaries:

TXCANYFLCO

Compare Jobs

Compare salaries for other government & public service jobs in California:

Police OfficerFirefighterUrban PlannerCity Manager

Explore Related Data for a Social Worker in California

Dig into every angle of a social worker salary ($86,477 median) in California — take-home pay, affordability, taxes, mortgage, retirement, and city-level data.

Take-home pay on $86,477 in California

Federal, state, Social Security, and Medicare — what you keep after taxes.

What you can afford on $86,477 in California

Home price, rent, and monthly spending guidelines for this income.

Tax brackets on $86,477 in California

Exactly which federal and state brackets your salary crosses.

$350,000 mortgage in California

Monthly payment, property tax, and total interest at typical rates.

Retirement at 30 earning $90,000

Savings benchmarks and projections for your income level.

Social Worker salary in Los Angeles

Drill down to city-level salary data for Los Angeles, California.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the median social worker salary in California?

The median social worker salary in California is $86,477, compared to a national median of $67,560.

What is the entry-level social worker salary in California?

Entry-level social worker positions in California typically pay around $52,504 annually.

What is the senior social worker salary in California?

Senior social worker professionals in California earn around $120,449 annually.

What is the job growth outlook for social worker?

The projected 10-year job growth outlook for social worker positions is 14%, which indicates strong demand in this field.

What education is needed to become a social worker?

Bachelor's degree in Social Work; Master's degree often required

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