Salary distribution
Where California healthcare social workers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $67,880 and $122,200, with a median of $92,970.
Healthcare Social Workers in California: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 28 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $66,560. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 17 | $58,614 |
| Level II — qualified | 5 | $83,241 |
| Level III — experienced | 2 | $109,500 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 1 | $108,014 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Healthcare Social Workers in California. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stanford Health Care | Licensed Clinical Social Worker | 2 | $103,884 |
| La Puente ADHC Inc. | Social Worker | 2 | $58,573 |
| Angeles Del Sol CBAS, LLC | Social Worker | 2 | $58,614 |
| SQUARE HEALTH, LLC | Social Worker | 2 | $51,771 |
| Seen Health San Gabriel Valley LLC | Social Worker | 1 | $90,000 |
| California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation | Clinical Social Worker (Health/Correctional Facility) Safety | 1 | $87,300 |
| Department of State Hospitals - Coalinga | Clinical Social Worker | 1 | $83,208 |
| Lucile Salter Packard Childrens Hospital at Stanford | SCAN Social Work Program Manager | 1 | $108,014 |
| WeCare Health LLC | HEALTHCARE SOCIAL WORKER | 1 | $83,200 |
| A Plus Adult Day Health Care Inc | Social Worker | 1 | $66,560 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Social Worker at Seen Health San Gabriel Valley LLC$90,000AlhambraDecided Dec 10, 2025I-200-25337-455949
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Stanford Health Care$115,000StanfordWage Level IIIDecided Sep 12, 2025I-200-25248-289504
- Clinical Social Worker (Health/Correctional Facility) Safety at California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation$87,300San QuentinDecided Sep 9, 2025I-200-25245-281945
- Clinical Social Worker at Department of State Hospitals - Coalinga$83,208CoalingaDecided Aug 19, 2025I-200-25224-237966
- SOCIAL WORK CLINICIAN at Stanford Health Care$92,768Palo AltoWage Level IIDecided Aug 13, 2025I-200-25218-224354
- Social Worker at La Puente ADHC Inc.$57,866La PuenteWage Level IDecided Jul 18, 2025I-200-25192-168723
- SCAN Social Work Program Manager at Lucile Salter Packard Childrens Hospital at Stanford$108,014Palo AltoWage Level IVDecided Jul 7, 2025I-200-25178-135975
- HEALTHCARE SOCIAL WORKER at WeCare Health LLC$83,200CoronaWage Level IIDecided Jun 30, 2025I-200-25174-120290
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Healthcare Social Workers pay by experience level in California
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Healthcare Social Workers specialties in California
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 20 certified offers. The most common variant is Social Worker at a median of $58,947.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Worker | La Puente ADHC Inc. | 14 | $58,947 |
| Healthcare Social Worker | WeCare Health LLC | 6 | $61,807 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Healthcare Social Workers in California, by industry
Median offered wage across 28 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Healthcare leads with a median of $66,560.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | Stanford Health Care | 27 | $66,560 |
| Government and public sector | California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation | 1 | $87,300 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in California over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Master's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.9 / 5
Psychology
Knowledge
- 4.7 / 5
Therapy and Counseling
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Sociology and Anthropology
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Social Perceptiveness
Technical
- 4.1 / 5
Speaking
Basic skill
- 4.1 / 5
Service Orientation
Technical
- 4.1 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Advocate for clients or patients to resolve crises.
- 02
Educate clients about end-of-life symptoms and options to assist them in making informed decisions.
- 03
Collaborate with other professionals to evaluate patients' medical or physical condition and to assess client needs.
- 04
Investigate child abuse or neglect cases and take authorized protective action when necessary.
- 05
Refer patient, client, or family to community resources to assist in recovery from mental or physical illness and to provide access to services such as financial assistance, legal aid, housing, job placement or education.
- 06
Utilize consultation data and social work experience to plan and coordinate client or patient care and rehabilitation, following through to ensure service efficacy.
- 07
Monitor, evaluate, and record client progress according to measurable goals described in treatment and care plan.
- 08
Identify environmental impediments to client or patient progress through interviews and review of patient records.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+7.7%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in California
Metro-level salary data for healthcare social workers in major California metropolitan areas.
- San Jose$106,000
- San Francisco$103,440
- Sacramento$97,370
- Riverside$92,790
- Los Angeles$85,770
- San Diego$83,120
Compare Healthcare Social Workers pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Healthcare Social Workers in California?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Healthcare Social Workers in California is $92,970.
- How does California compare to the national median for Healthcare Social Workers?
- The California median is +33.3% versus the BLS national figure of $69,759.
- What is the salary range for Healthcare Social Workers in California?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $51,720 and the 90th-percentile at $141,510, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Healthcare Social Workers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 7.7% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Healthcare Social Workers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Master's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.