Healthcare Social Worker Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Healthcare Social Workers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $79,830 a year — 18% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $60,758 take-home, or $5,063 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median healthcare social worker salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,733
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,949
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,158
- California income tax$3,195
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,038
- Take-home pay$60,758
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Healthcare Social Worker pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,720 | $25.35 | $42,642 | $3,554 |
| 25th percentile | $63,020 | $30.30 | $50,167 | $4,181 |
| Median (50th) | $79,830 | $38.38 | $60,758 | $5,063 |
| 75th percentile | $103,470 | $49.75 | $74,883 | $6,240 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $131,450 | $63.20 | $91,408 | $7,617 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $79,830 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median healthcare social worker's $60,758 take-home pay has the buying power of $53,500 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Healthcare Social Worker jobs are about as common in Los Angeles, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.84).
Best-paying cities for healthcare social workers, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #9 of 13 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $99,640 | $72,594 | $62,791 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $83,550 | $67,607 | $60,835 |
| 3 | Dallas, TX | $75,930 | $62,247 | $60,381 |
| 4 | Houston, TX | $71,900 | $59,412 | $60,238 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $75,720 | $58,866 | $56,338 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $78,410 | $60,291 | $55,688 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $71,430 | $55,690 | $53,757 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $78,610 | $60,484 | $53,734 |
| 9 | Los Angeles, CA | $79,830 | $60,758 | $53,500 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 13 metros →
About the job: healthcare social workers
Provide individuals, families, and groups with the psychosocial support needed to cope with chronic, acute, or terminal illnesses. Services include advising family caregivers. Provide patients with information and counseling, and make referrals for other services. May also provide case and care management or interventions designed to promote health, prevent disease, and address barriers to access to healthcare.
- Typical education
- Master's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Internship/residency
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +8.5% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Healthcare Social Worker salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $99,640
Frequently asked questions
How much does a healthcare social worker make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median healthcare social worker salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $79,830 a year, or about $38.38 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $63,020 and $103,470.
What is a healthcare social worker’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $79,830 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $60,758 a year ($5,063 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,232 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a healthcare social worker?
Pay here is 18% above the national median of $67,880. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $53,500 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #9 of 13 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a healthcare social worker afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 44% of a median healthcare social worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- Probation Officer and Correctional Treatment Specialist — $108,150
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors — $79,000
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker — $78,410
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers — $71,250
- Marriage and Family Therapist — $71,110
- Health Education Specialist — $62,380
- Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other — $56,960
- Community Health Worker — $56,030
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors — $51,910
- Social and Human Service Assistant — $50,330
- Counselors, All Other — $48,830
- Rehabilitation Counselor — $43,480