Social Workers, All Other pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,190 a year or less, while the top 10% make $136,260 or more. The middle half of other social workers in San Diego earn between $50,930 and $121,120.
- $36K10th
- $51K25th
- $77KMedian
- $121K75th
- $136K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $84,070 | $7,006 | $40.42 |
| Median | $77,010 | $6,418 | $37.02 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $50,930 | $4,244 | $24.49 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $121,120 | $10,093 | $58.23 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Social Workers, All Other pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Other social workers in San Diego earn 12% more than the California average ($75,300) and 11% more than the U.S. average ($75,910). At the median the gap is +7% against the U.S. median of $71,900.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $84,070 | $77,010 | $36,190 | $136,260 | 720 |
| California | $75,300 | $63,010 | $36,160 | $132,480 | 6,430 |
| United States | $75,910 | $71,900 | $43,620 | $115,610 | 62,930 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Social Workers, All Other salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $84,070, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $64,247 a year, or $5,354 a month and $2,471 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% 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 Diego a good place for other social workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $84,070 buys what about $75,138 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 11.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Social Workers, All Other salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 8th of 16 California metro areas for this job; Stockton pays the most ($105,250).
- Stockton$105,250
- Modesto$103,790
- San Jose$102,860
- Santa Rosa$101,860
- Vallejo$99,800
- San Francisco$94,950
- Riverside$90,190
- San Diego$84,070
- Oxnard$81,710
- Salinas$80,750
Highest-paying cities for other social workers
Reno, NV pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($142,460).
- Reno, NV$142,460
- Las Vegas, NV$114,210
- Honolulu, HI$113,310
- Worcester, MA$106,140
- Amherst, MA$105,840
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Social Workers, All Other salary in San Diego: questions
How much do other social workers make an hour in San Diego?
$40.42 an hour on average, and $37.02 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level other social workers salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,190 a year and the 25th percentile is $50,930, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the other social workers take-home pay in San Diego?
About $64,247 a year ($5,354 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $84,070. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do other social workers earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% more than the U.S. average for this job ($75,910).
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 21-1029; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.2%.
- 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 1.15, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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