How Much Does a Social Worker III Make in California?

Updated April 01, 2025
As of April 01, 2025, the average annual pay of Social Worker III in California is $81,728. While Salary.com is seeing that Social Worker III salary in CA can go up to $96,952 or down to $65,871, but most earn between $73,427 and $89,697. 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 Worker III
Social Worker
$81,728
California
Per Year
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
$85,883
California
Per Year
Medical Social Worker (MSW)
$72,692
California
Per Year
Medical Social Worker (BSW)
$72,692
California
Per Year
download asset banner
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.

Similar Job Salaries to Social Worker III by Company

FIND A SPECIFIC EMPLOYER
Loading results...
Company average base salary in (usd) range
YUBA COUNTY PERSONNEL
Social Worker III/III-Master's
$67,177/yr
$59,846
$74,508
RANGE: $59,846 - $74,508
Humboldt County
Social Worker III (MSS)
$62,324/yr
$55,523
$69,126
RANGE: $55,523 - $69,126
CalHR
Social Worker III
$68,777/yr
$61,272
$76,283
RANGE: $61,272 - $76,283
San Joaquin County
Clinical Social Worker III
$83,326/yr
$73,472
$93,180
RANGE: $73,472 - $93,180
County of Humboldt
Social Worker III (MSS)
$62,324/yr
$55,523
$69,126
RANGE: $55,523 - $69,126
County of Del Norte, CA
Social Worker III (MSS)
$62,324/yr
$55,523
$69,126
RANGE: $55,523 - $69,126
San Joaquin County, CA
Clinical Social Worker III
$75,978/yr
$67,325
$84,632
RANGE: $67,325 - $84,632
City of Hope National Medical Center
CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER III
$86,290/yr
$76,155
$96,425
RANGE: $76,155 - $96,425

Open Social Worker III Jobs in California

Create Alert

Top 10 Highest Paying Cities For Social Worker III 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 Worker III 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 Worker III job salaries in California. Some cities can pay higher salaries for Social Worker III jobs, which can indicate that there is a large demand for Social Worker III positions in this city.
The following table shows top 10 cities where the Social Worker III salary is higher than other cities in California. San Jose takes first place in this list, followed by Santa Clara, Fremont. The Social Worker III salary is $93,457 in San Jose, which is higher than the national average. There are 76 cities' Social Worker III salary higher than national average in California.
The average salary for a Social Worker III in California is $81,728, but we found that the city with the highest salary for Social Worker III jobs is San Jose, CA, and it is higher than Santa Clara. Social Worker III 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 $93,457 $7,788 $1,797 $45
Santa Clara $93,457 $7,788 $1,797 $45
Fremont $93,279 $7,773 $1,794 $45
San Francisco $92,538 $7,712 $1,780 $44
Daly City $92,538 $7,712 $1,780 $44
Berkeley $90,486 $7,540 $1,740 $44
Oakland $90,486 $7,540 $1,740 $44
Hayward $90,338 $7,528 $1,737 $43
Antioch $85,373 $7,114 $1,642 $41
Vallejo $83,358 $6,946 $1,603 $40

What Does a Social Worker III Do?

Although some social workers only need a bachelor’s degree in social work, clinical social workers must have a master’s degree and 2 years of post-master’s experience in a supervised clinical setting.
Updated November 30, 2021
Social workers work with many different populations and types of people, particularly focusing on those who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty.
Updated November 24, 2021
A clinical social worker, for example, focuses on diagnoses, treatments and prevention of mental, emotional and behavioral issues.
Updated November 20, 2021
Social workers are educated and trained to address social injustices and barriers to their client’s overall wellbeing.
Updated November 16, 2021
Out of the public eye, licensed social workers can also set up private practices that specialize in relationship problems, mental illness, personality disorders, or mental illnesses.
Updated November 14, 2021

Frequently Asked Questions About a Social Worker III Salaries

What is the average of a Social Worker III in California?

The Social Worker III salary range is from $73,427 to $89,697, and the average Social Worker III salary is $81,728/year in California. The Social Worker III's salary will change in different locations.

Which location pays the highest Social Worker III salary in the United States?

The Social Worker III salary in San Jose, CA is $93,457 which is the highest in the US.

What kinds of reasons will influence the Social Worker III'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 Worker III.

What is the growth rate of the Social Worker III's salary?

If you are thinking of becoming a Social Worker III or planning the next step in your career, find the detailed salary report of a Social Worker III.