Paycheck Atlas

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary in Santa Cruz, CA

The median mental health and substance abuse social workers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA earns $62,680 a year, 4% above the US median. After tax that is roughly $4,013 a month.

10th percentile
$49,470
25th percentile
$56,940
Median percentile
$62,680
75th percentile
$80,040
90th percentile
$111,340

Based on 70 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

$48,156 take-home a year
Gross pay$62,680
Federal income tax−$5,342
Social Security + Medicare−$4,795
California income tax (approx.)−$4,388
Monthly take-home$4,013
Every two weeks$1,852

Does it go far here?

$57,036Median pay in Santa Cruz, CA is worth this at average US prices (local price level 109.9 vs 100).
56%of take-home pay goes to the median rent ($2,264 a month, Census ACS).

Top-paying jobs in Santa Cruz, CA

JobMedian pay
Registered Nurses$170,960
Software Developers$156,910
Sales Managers$117,090
General and Operations Managers$105,360
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$99,260
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$98,810
Accountants and Auditors$84,920
Business Operations Specialists, All Other$84,010

All mental health and substance abuse social workers salaries · Take-home pay in California