Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in California. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where California mental health and substance abuse social workers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $57,800 and $118,860, with a median of $79,000.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in California: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 14 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $85,235. 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 | 3 | $62,400 |
| Level II — qualified | 5 | $67,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 5 | $91,187 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 1 | $105,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in California. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| The People Concern | Clinician | 3 | $67,000 |
| Asian Health Services | Licensed Clinical Social Worker | 2 | $91,187 |
| Advanced Medical Care Inc. | Social Worker | 1 | $62,400 |
| FAMILY SERVICE AGENCY OF SAN FRANCISCO INC. | Clinical Case Manager - GOS | 1 | $91,187 |
| Multi-lingual Counseling Center Inc. | SENIOR LCSW THERAPIST | 1 | $102,000 |
| North East Medical Services | PACE Social Worker | 1 | $95,992 |
| Odd Fellow Rebekah Children's Home of California | Clinician II | 1 | $81,536 |
| PCH TREATMENT INC. | PROGRAM DIRECTOR | 1 | $105,000 |
| SPECIAL SERVICE FOR GROUPS, INC. | Psychiatric Social Worker II | 1 | $88,934 |
| The Stepping Stones Group LLC | Licensed Mental Health Provider | 1 | $63,045 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Clinician at The People Concern$69,722Los AngelesWage Level IDecided Jan 28, 2026I-200-26021-575532
- PACE Social Worker at North East Medical Services$95,992San FranciscoWage Level IIDecided Jan 2, 2026I-200-25358-508775
- Clin. Inst. of Psy. and the Beh. Sci. (Pract.)/Therapist at The University of Southern California$49,150Los AngelesWage Level IDecided Dec 12, 2025I-200-25339-460879
- Psychiatric Social Worker II at SPECIAL SERVICE FOR GROUPS, INC.$88,934West CovinaWage Level IIIDecided Nov 19, 2025I-200-25317-403033
- Clinician at The People Concern$63,336Los AngelesWage Level IIDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25307-364874
- PROGRAM DIRECTOR at PCH TREATMENT INC.$105,000LOS ANGELESWage Level IVDecided Jul 29, 2025I-203-25203-193279
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Asian Health Services$91,187OaklandWage Level IIIDecided Jun 26, 2025I-200-25169-107442
- Clinician II at Odd Fellow Rebekah Children's Home of California$81,536CampbellWage Level IIDecided Jun 18, 2025I-200-25162-079728
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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Mental Health and Substance Abuse 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.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in California, by industry
Median offered wage across 14 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Healthcare leads with a median of $90,061.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | Asian Health Services | 12 | $90,061 |
| Education | The University of Southern California | 1 | $49,150 |
| Nonprofit and civic | The People Concern | 1 | $69,722 |
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)
- 4.8 / 5
Therapy and Counseling
Knowledge
- 4.7 / 5
Psychology
Knowledge
- 4.5 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.3 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
- 4.3 / 5
Social Perceptiveness
Technical
- 4.1 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
- 4.1 / 5
Speaking
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Counsel clients in individual or group sessions to assist them in dealing with substance abuse, mental or physical illness, poverty, unemployment, or physical abuse.
- 02
Collaborate with counselors, physicians, or nurses to plan or coordinate treatment, drawing on social work experience and patient needs.
- 03
Monitor, evaluate, and record client progress with respect to treatment goals.
- 04
Interview clients, review records, conduct assessments, or confer with other professionals to evaluate the mental or physical condition of clients or patients.
- 05
Supervise or direct other workers who provide services to clients or patients.
- 06
Modify treatment plans according to changes in client status.
- 07
Assist clients in adhering to treatment plans, such as setting up appointments, arranging for transportation to appointments, or providing support.
- 08
Educate clients or community members about mental or physical illness, abuse, medication, or available community resources.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+9.7%
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 mental health and substance abuse social workers in major California metropolitan areas.
- San Jose$109,050
- San Francisco$87,550
- Riverside$87,370
- Sacramento$83,150
- Los Angeles$78,410
- San Diego$75,570
Compare Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare California with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in California?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in California is $79,000.
- How does California compare to the national median for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers?
- The California median is +27.1% versus the BLS national figure of $62,142.
- What is the salary range for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in California?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $46,450 and the 90th-percentile at $147,300, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 9.7% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Mental Health and Substance Abuse 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.