Benchmark Salary Information

  • The number of Social Workers currently employed in Salinas is 380.
  • Social Workers in Salinas earn an average of $59,260 per year or $28.49 per hour.
  • The percentage of California Social Workers who work in Salinas is less than 1%.
  • The percentage of U.S. Social Workers who work in Salinas is less than 1%.

Rankings for Salinas

  • Ranks #9 in California for salary and #7 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Ranks #16 in California for the number of psychologists employed.
  • Ranks #53 in the nation for salary and #11 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Ranks #180 in the nation for the number of psychologists employed.

Compared to California

Salinas Social Workers earn an average of $59,260 or $28.49 per hour which is 8% less than the California average salary of $64,940.

AverageSalinasCalifornia% Difference
Hourly Wage$28.49$31.22-8.74%
Annual Salary$59,260$64,940-8.75%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Compared to the U.S.

Salinas Social Workers earn an average of $59,260 or $28.49 per hour which is 7% more than the U.S. average salary of $54,880.

AverageSalinasU.S.%
Hourly Wage$28.49$26.397.96%
Annual Salary$59,260$54,8807.98%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

When adjusted for cost-of-living, Social Workers in Salinas earns an average annual salary of $53,508 which compares to the California average annual salary of $64,940. per year.

Cost-of-living in Salinas is 11% higher than the California average, which means Salinas residents have an overall higher cost for food, housing, utilities and transportation compared to California average.

  • California average salary is $64,940.
  • California cost-of-living adjusted salary is $58,833.
  • Salinas average salary is $59,260.
  • Salinas cost-of-living adjusted salary is $53,508.
LocationAverage Annual WageCost of LivingAdjusted COL Wage
Salinas$59,260110.75%$53,508
California$64,940110.38%$58,833
U.S.$54,880$54,880
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary Ranges for Education and Experience

In Salinas, 50% of Social Workers earn between $50,530 and $65,060 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.

About 10% of Social Workers earn more than $78,940, which is a rate for highly skilled, experienced and educated Social Workers.

Approximately 10% of Social Workers earn under $39,340, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Social Workers.

PercentExperienceEmployedAnnual Salary
10%Less than a Year38Under $39,340
15%2 – 4 years57$39,340 – $50,530
25%5 – 9 years95$50,530 – $51,060
25%10 – 14 years95$51,060 – $65,060
15%15 – 20 years57$51,060 – $78,940
10%20+ years38Above $78,940
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary Compared to Related Professions

With an average annual salary of $59,260, Salinas Social Workers tend to earn less than Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($116,480), School Psychologists ($109,370), Health Care Social Workers ($90,840), and Marriage and Family Therapists ($62,960).

However, Social Workers tend to earn more than Substance Abuse Counselors ($55,500).

TitleAnnual Salary
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$116,480
School Psychologists$109,370
Health Care Social Workers$90,840
Marriage and Family Therapists$62,960
Social Workers$59,260
Substance Abuse Counselors$55,500
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

FAQ for Salinas Social Workers

The number of Social Workers currently employed in Salinas is 380.

Social Workers earn an average of $59,260 per year or $28.49 per hour in Salinas.

When adjusted for Cost of Living in Salinas Social Workers earn an average of $53,508 per year or $26 per hour.

The types of psychologists that are paid the highest annual salary in Salinas are Clinical and Counseling Psychologists($116,480), School Psychologists($109,370), Health Care Social Workers($90,840).


Additional Salary Reports for Social Workers in California cities and Metros and U.S. States.

Official Data Sources for Social Workers: Salary Data | Projected Employment | Cost of Living Data