Healthcare Social Workers in California. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
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 $67,630 and $118,740, with a median of $89,660.
Healthcare Social Workers in California: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 32 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 | 20 | $58,614 |
| Level II — qualified | 6 | $86,621 |
| Level III — experienced | 3 | $104,000 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Puente ADHC Inc. | Social Worker | 3 | $59,280 |
| Angeles Del Sol CBAS, LLC | Healthcare Social Worker | 2 | $58,614 |
| SQUARE HEALTH, LLC | Social Worker | 2 | $51,771 |
| Stanford Health Care | Licensed Clinical Social Worker | 2 | $103,884 |
| A Plus Adult Day Health Care Inc | Social Worker | 1 | $66,560 |
| Anchor Health LLC | Medical Social Worker | 1 | $104,000 |
| Angeles Del Sol ADHC LLC | Social Worker | 1 | $58,614 |
| Arthur Montes, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Inc. | Licensed Clinical Social Worker | 1 | $104,000 |
| California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation | Clinical Social Worker (Health/Correctional Facility) Safety | 1 | $87,300 |
| CALIFORNIA SPECTRUM CARE INC. | Adaptive Skills Training Professional | 1 | $95,680 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Social Worker at La Puente ADHC Inc.$62,400La PuenteWage Level IDecided Mar 18, 2026I-200-26070-695686
- Social Worker at SINIKIT ADULT HEALTH CARE INC.$57,866San GabrielWage Level IDecided Mar 11, 2026I-200-26063-678416
- Social Worker - Supervised at US RENAL CARE, INC$76,960Panorama CityWage Level IDecided Mar 3, 2026I-200-26055-662017
- Compliance and Administration Director at SPECIAL SERVICE FOR GROUPS, INC.$100,000Los AngelesWage Level IIIDecided Jan 23, 2026I-200-26015-562761
- Social Worker at Seen Health San Gabriel Valley LLC$90,000AlhambraWage Level IIDecided 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
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.
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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 | Angeles Del Sol CBAS, 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 32 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Healthcare leads with a median of $66,560.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | La Puente ADHC Inc. | 31 | $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 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 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$107,170
- San Francisco$99,640
- Sacramento$97,070
- Riverside$85,360
- San Diego$82,630
- Los Angeles$79,830
Compare Healthcare Social Workers pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare California with another state
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 $89,660.
- How does California compare to the national median for Healthcare Social Workers?
- The California median is +28.3% versus the BLS national figure of $69,902.
- What is the salary range for Healthcare Social Workers in California?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $54,220 and the 90th-percentile at $134,880, 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.