Healthcare Social Workers in California
Want to work as a Healthcare Social Workers in California? Here’s what the data says. 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.
What do Healthcare Social Workers Make in California?
For healthcare social workers working in California, wages run about $92,970 per year (or about $44.70/hour).Annual wages span from $51,720 at the 10th percentile to $141,510 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $51,720 | $24.87 |
| 25th percentile | $67,880 | $32.64 |
| Median (50th) | $92,970 | $44.70 |
| 75th percentile | $122,200 | $58.75 |
| 90th percentile | $141,510 | $68.03 |
The job concentration index in California nationwide is 0.90.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, healthcare social workers earn a median of $78,044 per year ($37.52/hour), higher than the California median.
Employment Outlook
There are roughly 224,465 healthcare social workers across the United States. In California alone, about 19,680 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 2,010 healthcare social workers.
Top California Metros for Healthcare Social Workers
The metro areas below employ the most healthcare social workers in California.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 7,960 | $85,770 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 2,730 | $103,440 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 1,630 | $92,790 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 1,520 | $83,120 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 1,020 | $97,370 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 790 | $106,000 |
| Fresno, CA | 620 | $91,640 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 370 | $82,970 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 320 | $84,940 |
| Modesto, CA | 230 | $95,710 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 210 | $87,890 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 190 | $93,430 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 190 | $114,480 |
| Napa, CA | 180 | $141,490 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 180 | $132,790 |
| Vallejo, CA | 170 | $115,930 |
| Visalia, CA | 170 | $93,920 |
| Salinas, CA | 130 | $96,840 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 110 | $93,230 |
| Chico, CA | 90 | $110,030 |
| Redding, CA | 70 | $76,380 |
| Merced, CA | 50 | $82,430 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | 40 | $82,240 |
| Yuba City, CA | 40 | $80,370 |
| El Centro, CA | 30 | $78,160 |
Top States for Healthcare Social Workers Employment
View the states that employ the most healthcare social workers work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| New York | 22,880 |
| California | 19,680 |
| Texas | 11,470 |
| Florida | 8,950 |
| Ohio | 8,700 |
| Massachusetts | 7,540 |
| Georgia | 6,780 |
| Pennsylvania | 6,560 |
| Tennessee | 5,780 |
| Maryland | 5,430 |
| Illinois | 5,240 |
| Michigan | 5,110 |
| Washington | 4,970 |
| North Carolina | 4,650 |
| Missouri | 4,630 |
| New Jersey | 4,390 |
| Indiana | 4,320 |
| Colorado | 4,050 |
| Wisconsin | 3,810 |
| Arizona | 2,830 |
Highest-Paying States for Healthcare Social Workers
These states pay the most for healthcare social workers.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $92,970 |
| District of Columbia | $92,600 |
| Oregon | $85,150 |
| Hawaii | $84,640 |
| Connecticut | $81,900 |
| New Jersey | $81,710 |
| Rhode Island | $79,460 |
| Vermont | $78,390 |
| New Hampshire | $78,000 |
| Alaska | $77,990 |
Skills
The most important healthcare social workers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Key abilities for healthcare social workers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Common tasks include:
- Advocate for clients or patients to resolve crises.
- Educate clients about end-of-life symptoms and options to assist them in making informed decisions.
- Collaborate with other professionals to evaluate patients' medical or physical condition and to assess client needs.
- Refer patient, client, or family to community resources to assist in recovery from mental or physical illness and to provide access to services such as financial assistance, legal aid, housing, job placement or education.
- Utilize consultation data and social work experience to plan and coordinate client or patient care and rehabilitation, following through to ensure service efficacy.
- Monitor, evaluate, and record client progress according to measurable goals described in treatment and care plan.
- Identify environmental impediments to client or patient progress through interviews and review of patient records.
- Counsel clients and patients in individual and group sessions to help them overcome dependencies, recover from illness, and adjust to life.
- Plan discharge from care facility to home or other care facility.
- Organize support groups or counsel family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, and supporting the client or patient.
- Modify treatment plans to comply with changes in clients' status.
- Supervise and direct other workers providing services to clients or patients.
Work Activities
- Assisting and Caring for Others
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Getting Information
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization
- Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
- Working with Computers
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
Tools & Technology
Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: MEDITECH software In-demand technologies: Google Meet
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Related college programs include:
- Social Work
- Mental & Social Health Services
- Thanatology
Featured schools near , edit
Related Careers
Other careers like healthcare social workers include:
- Social and Community Service Managers
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
- Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors
- Marriage and Family Therapists
- Mental Health Counselors
- Rehabilitation Counselors
Also Known As
AIDS Social Worker, Bereavement Counselor, Case Manager, Case Worker, Caseworker, Certified Health Care Social Worker, Certified Social Worker in Health Care (C-SWHC), Client Advocate, Clinical Social Worker, Disability Advocate, Disability Coordinator, Disability Specialist, Discharge Planner, Elder Counselor, Family Advocate.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 21-1022.00
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