How Much Do Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Make in California?
Median wage from BLS May 2025 — and the after-tax number the salary sites skip. Tax year 2026.
Quick answer
According to payandtaxes.com's analysis of BLS May 2025 data and 2026 tax law, the median Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in California earns $79,000 per year and takes home $61,289 ($5,107/month) — a keep-rate of 77.6%, with 19,860 employed in the state.
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| Gross pay | $6,583.33 |
| Federal income tax | $712.49 |
| Social Security | $408.17 |
| Medicare | $95.46 |
| California state income tax | $259.79 |
| You keep | $5,107.43 |
How much do Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers make in California?
The median Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in California earns $79,000 per year (BLS May 2025), about $37.98 per hour.
What is that after taxes?
$79,000 gross in California keeps $61,289 after federal income tax ($8,550), FICA ($6,044) and state income tax ($3,117) — $5,107 per month, a 77.6% keep-rate.
How does California compare to the national median for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers?
The California median is $18,720 above the national median of $60,280.
Which state pays Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers the most?
New York has the highest median gross for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers at $79,380 — but compare take-home, not gross: state taxes change the order.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary in every state · California paycheck calculator · California minimum wage