Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,990 a year or less, while the top 10% make $208,000 or more. The middle half of mental health and substance abuse social workers in San Francisco earn between $68,370 and $145,180.
- $59K10th
- $68K25th
- $88KMedian
- $145K75th
- $208K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $109,530 | $9,128 | $52.66 |
| Median | $87,550 | $7,296 | $42.09 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $68,370 | $5,698 | $32.87 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $145,180 | $12,098 | $69.80 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Mental health and substance abuse social workers in San Francisco earn 20% more than the California average ($91,050) and 61% more than the U.S. average ($68,030). At the median the gap is +45% against the U.S. median of $60,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $109,530 | $87,550 | $58,990 | $208,000 | 1,990 |
| California | $91,050 | $79,000 | $46,450 | $147,300 | 19,860 |
| United States | $68,030 | $60,280 | $39,740 | $104,170 | 132,810 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary after taxes in San Francisco
On the average salary of $109,530, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $79,790 a year, or $6,649 a month and $3,069 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Francisco a good place for mental health and substance abuse social workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $109,530 buys what about $94,738 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 10.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 2nd of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($117,050).
- San Jose$117,050
- San Francisco$109,530
- San Luis Obispo$109,030
- Vallejo$108,430
- Modesto$96,890
- Santa Rosa$94,510
- Riverside$94,450
- Salinas$93,880
- Hanford$92,740
- Sacramento$91,350
All Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for mental health and substance abuse social workers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($117,050).
- San Jose, CA$117,050
- San Francisco, CA$109,530
- San Luis Obispo, CA$109,030
- Vallejo, CA$108,430
- Modesto, CA$96,890
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary by city
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Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary in San Francisco: questions
How much do mental health and substance abuse social workers make an hour in San Francisco?
$52.66 an hour on average, and $42.09 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mental health and substance abuse social workers salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,990 a year and the 25th percentile is $68,370, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mental health and substance abuse social workers take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $79,790 a year ($6,649 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $109,530. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do mental health and substance abuse social workers earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 61% more than the U.S. average for this job ($68,030).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 21-1023; area San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.98, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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