State comparison · 2025
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary: California vs Wisconsin
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in California earn a median of $79,000. In Wisconsin, $61,860. After cost-of-living, the gap is 8.6% — not 27.7%.
Nominal pay gap
+27.7%
California vs Wisconsin
COL-adjusted gap
+8.6%
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%
Wisconsin
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
- Median
- $61,860
- p25
- $49,720
- p75
- $75,360
- p10
- $45,430
- p90
- $87,690
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 94.1
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -33%
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.