Social Work Counselor Salaries in California
How Much Does a Social Work Counselor Make in California?
Updated April 01, 2025
As of April 01, 2025,
the average annual pay of Social Work Counselor in California is $73,994.
While Salary.com is seeing that Social Work Counselor salary in CA can go up to $89,217
or down to $58,281, but most earn between $65,769 and $81,962.
Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors,
including education, certifications, additional skills, and your experience levels.
With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Related Job Titles to Social Work Counselor
Facing Salary Structure Challenges? Let Our Expert Guide You
The job market is increasingly challenging. Our whitepaper, Navigating the Challenges of Creating Salary Structures, offers guidance on creating salary structures. Provide your phone number and work email to download the full version.
We will handle your contact details in line with our Privacy Policy.
If you prefer not to receive marketing emails from Salary.com, you can opt-out out of marketing communications at any time by clicking unsubscribe.
Choose a prefer time
Choose Your Preferred Time
All times are listed as US Eastern time (Boston/New York)
-
9:00 AM-9:30 AM
-
9:30 AM-10:00 AM
-
10:00 AM-10:30 AM
-
10:30 AM-11:00 AM
-
11:00 AM-11:30 AM
-
11:30 AM-12:00 PM
-
12:00 PM-12:30 PM
-
12:30 PM-1:00 PM
-
1:00 PM-1:30 PM
-
1:30 PM-2:00 PM
-
2:00 PM-2:30 PM
-
2:30 PM-3:00 PM
-
3:00 PM-3:30 PM
-
3:30 PM-4:00 PM
-
4:00 PM-4:30 PM
-
4:30 PM-5:00 PM
-
5:00 PM-5:30 PM
-
5:30 PM-6:00 PM
-
6:00 PM-6:30 PM
-
6:30 PM-7:00 PM
-
7:00 PM-7:30 PM
-
7:30 PM-8:00 PM
Similar Job Salaries to Social Work Counselor by Company
Loading results...
| Company | average base salary in (usd) | range |
|---|---|---|
|
Nightingale's List
Social Work - Correctional Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor - $2,280 per week
|
$90,238/yr
|
RANGE: $79,400 - $101,077
|
|
Center for Elders' Independence
Social Work
|
$86,577/yr
|
RANGE: $76,717 - $96,438
|
|
Nightingale's List
Social Work
|
$95,176/yr
|
RANGE: $83,744 - $106,608
|
|
KA Recruiting Inc.
Social Work Manager (Manager of Social Work in CA)
|
$98,971/yr
|
RANGE: $87,395 - $110,547
|
|
State of Colorado
SOCIAL WORK/COUNSELOR II
|
$84,825/yr
|
RANGE: $74,736 - $94,915
|
Top 10 Highest Paying Cities For Social Work Counselor Jobs in California
It is important to understand how location impacts your career prospects in the United States.
There are some cities where a Social Work Counselor can find a job easily with a greater salary paid then achieve a higher standard of living.
Below is the top cities list for Social Work Counselor job salaries in California.
Some cities can pay higher salaries for Social Work Counselor jobs, which can indicate that there is a large demand for Social Work Counselor positions in this city.
The following table shows top 10 cities where the Social Work Counselor salary is higher than other cities in California.
San Jose takes first place in this list, followed by Santa Clara, Fremont.
The Social Work Counselor salary is $84,614 in San Jose,
which is higher than the national average. There are 76 cities' Social Work Counselor salary higher than national average in California.
The average salary for a Social Work Counselor in California is $73,994,
but we found that the city with the highest salary for Social Work Counselor jobs is San Jose, CA, and it is higher than Santa Clara.
Social Work Counselor jobs in San Jose can have the opportunity to earn higher salaries than in other cities in California.
| CITY | ANNUAL SALARY | MONTHLY PAY | WEEKLY PAY | HOURLY WAGE |
| San Jose | $84,614 | $7,051 | $1,627 | $41 |
| Santa Clara | $84,614 | $7,051 | $1,627 | $41 |
| Fremont | $84,453 | $7,038 | $1,624 | $41 |
| San Francisco | $83,782 | $6,982 | $1,611 | $40 |
| Daly City | $83,782 | $6,982 | $1,611 | $40 |
| Berkeley | $81,924 | $6,827 | $1,575 | $39 |
| Oakland | $81,924 | $6,827 | $1,575 | $39 |
| Hayward | $81,789 | $6,816 | $1,573 | $39 |
| Antioch | $77,295 | $6,441 | $1,486 | $37 |
| Vallejo | $75,470 | $6,289 | $1,451 | $36 |
What Does a Social Work Counselor Do?
Counseling roles share some similarities with social work career opportunities, along with some key differences.
Updated November 10, 2021
A PhD in Social work may be a good fit for professionals who want to delve into research while also honing their hand-on skills and expertise.
Updated October 16, 2021
Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) may work with a wide range of clients, often helping them with mental health and behavioral issues.
Updated December 22, 2021
This means that the fees charged for counseling or social work can be reimbursed by a client’s insurer.
Updated December 22, 2021
Social workers and counselors develop many of the same skills, including the ability to communicate effectively and think critically.
Updated December 19, 2021
Empower Your Talent Strategy with Salary.com's Skills Library.
Struggling with Managing Your Job Descriptions?
View Job Skills and Competency Data for more than 15,000 Job Titles, 18 Industries, and 26 Job Families.
Skills LibraryOur job description management tool- JobArchitect streamlines your job description process. Say goodbye to the hassle of crafting job descriptions.
Explore JobArchitectFrequently Asked Questions About a Social Work Counselor Salaries
What is the average of a Social Work Counselor in California?
The Social Work Counselor salary range is from $65,769 to $81,962, and the average Social Work Counselor salary is $73,994/year in California.
The Social Work Counselor's salary will change in different locations.
Which location pays the highest Social Work Counselor salary in the United States?
The Social Work Counselor salary in San Jose, CA is $84,614
which is the highest in the US.
What kinds of reasons will influence the Social Work Counselor's salary?
Besides the location, employees' education degree, related skills, and work experience also will influence the salary.
Try to improve your skills and experience to get a higher salary for the position of Social Work Counselor.
What is the growth rate of the Social Work Counselor's salary?
If you are thinking of becoming a Social Work Counselor or planning the next step in your career, find the detailed salary report of a Social Work Counselor.
