Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary in California
The median mental health and substance abuse social workers in California earns $79,000 a year, 31% above the US median. After tax that is roughly $4,906 a month.
- 10th percentile
- $46,450
- 25th percentile
- $57,800
- Median percentile
- $79,000
- 75th percentile
- $118,860
- 90th percentile
- $147,300
Based on 19,860 employed. Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025. Percentiles show the spread of pay, not experience; reading the 25th percentile as "entry level" is only an approximation.
What you keep
$58,877 take-home a year
| Gross pay | $79,000 |
| Federal income tax | −$8,550 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$6,044 |
| California income tax (approx.) | −$5,530 |
| Monthly take-home | $4,906 |
| Every two weeks | $2,264 |
Does it go far here?
$71,351Median pay in California is worth this at average US prices (local price level 110.7 vs 100).
41%of take-home pay goes to the median rent ($2,036 a month, Census ACS).
Top-paying jobs in California
| Job | Median pay |
|---|---|
| Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | $400,150 |
| Neurologists | $357,080 |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $353,900 |
| Psychiatrists | $353,500 |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | $313,890 |
| Obstetricians and Gynecologists | $301,240 |
| Nurse Anesthetists | $292,410 |
| Physicians, All Other | $281,590 |
All mental health and substance abuse social workers salaries · Take-home pay in California