State comparison · 2025
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary: California vs District of Columbia
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in California earn a median of $79,000. In District of Columbia, $73,310. After cost-of-living, the gap is 7% — not 7.8%.
Nominal pay gap
+7.8%
California vs District of Columbia
COL-adjusted gap
+7%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
- Median
- $79,000
- p25
- $57,800
- p75
- $118,860
- p10
- $46,450
- p90
- $147,300
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -29%
District of Columbia
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
- Median
- $73,310
- p25
- $65,360
- p75
- $104,170
- p10
- $57,940
- p90
- $115,500
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 109.9
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.