Healthcare Social Workers Employment & Job Outlook in California (2024)

California employs 19,660 Healthcare Social Workers professionals, above the national average concentration.

Data: BLS OEWS 2024 • California employment outlook • Updated 2026-04-06

Total Employed
19,660
professionals
Jobs per 1,000
19.66
workers
Location Quotient
5.42
vs national avg
Average Salary
$93K
annual

High Demand in California

The location quotient (LQ) of 5.42 indicates that California has a higher-than-average concentration of Healthcare Social Workers professionals. This means the job is in high demand relative to other states, suggesting strong local job market opportunities.

Note: Location Quotient (LQ) is the ratio of the percentage of workers in an occupation in a given area to the percentage in that occupation nationwide. An LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration; < 1.0 means below-average.

California vs National Average

Total Employed
19,660
National: 185,000
10.6% of national
Jobs per 1,000
19.66
National: 3.63
+441.6%
Average Salary
$93K
National: $65K
+42.0%

Top States by Healthcare Social Workers Employment

#1
24,900
24,900
employed
#2
19,660
19,660
employed
#3
11,590
11,590
employed
#4
9,910
9,910
employed
#5
8,260
8,260
employed
#6
8,120
8,120
employed
#7
6,630
6,630
employed
#8
6,100
6,100
employed
#9
5,640
5,640
employed
#10
5,620
5,620
employed

What Does a Healthcare Social Workers Earn in California?

The average annual salary for a Healthcare Social Workers in California is $93,200. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.

View full salary breakdown →

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many Healthcare Social Workers jobs are there in California?

California employs approximately 19,660 Healthcare Social Workers professionals (2024 BLS data). This ranks California among the top states nationwide.

Is Healthcare Social Workers in demand in California?

Yes — California has above-average concentration of Healthcare Social Workers jobs (LQ: 5.42). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.

What is the average salary for Healthcare Social Workers in California?

The average (mean) salary for Healthcare Social Workers in California is $93200/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.

What is a Location Quotient (LQ)?

Location Quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is in a state compared to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means the state has more of that job proportionally. LQ > 1.2 indicates strong demand.

Which states employ the most Healthcare Social Workers professionals?

The top state for Healthcare Social Workers employment is New York with 24,900 jobs.

Related Pages

Data Source

Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Healthcare Social Workers (SOC 211022) in California.

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