Salaries › Social Worker › California
Social Worker Salary in California (2026)
$31.35 per hour · take-home ≈ $52,411/year ($4,368/month) for a single filer
Social Worker pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $45,360 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $52,270 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $65,200 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $82,080 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $103,050 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 60,310 Social Worker jobs in California (occupation code 21-1021, “Child, Family, and School Social Workers”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Social Worker salary of $65,200 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $52,411 — an effective tax rate of 19.6%.
| Gross (median) | $65,200 |
| Federal income tax | −$5,644 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$4,988 |
| California state income tax | −$2,157 |
| Take-home (annual) | $52,411 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $4,368 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Social Worker make in California?
- The median Social Worker salary in California is $65,200 per year ($31.35 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $52,270 and $82,080.
- What is the take-home pay for a Social Worker in California?
- On the median salary of $65,200, a single filer in California takes home about $52,411 per year ($4,368 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 19.6%.
- How many Social Worker jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 60,310 Social Worker jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Social Workers
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.