Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in California
Mental health and substance abuse social workers assess and treat individuals dealing with mental, emotional, or addiction problems involving alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs. They work in hospitals, clinics, community centers, private practice, and correctional facilities, providing therapy, crisis intervention, case management, and prevention education to help clients stabilize and improve their lives. In California the median pay is $79,000 a year, 31% above the national median of $60,280.
Four short assessments and your background, scored against mental health and substance abuse social workers and 13,000 other careers — with the reasons. Free.
Who is hiring in California
Openings in California and remote
- District of Columbia (DC) Remote Mental Health Licensed Therapist, 1099 Contractor · Headspace · USA · Remote
- Licensed Masters Mental Health Professional-General Adult Outpatient · KAISER · Sacramento, Sacramento County · $104,853–$104,853
- SOCIAL WORKER (MENTAL HEALTH CONSULTANT) · Military Treatment Facilities under DHA · Monterey, California · $111896–$145468
- Physician - Mental Health Integrated Care Medical Director · Veterans Health Administration · Mather AFB, California · $305000–$350000
- Registered Nurse - Outpatient Mental Health - Intensive Community Mental Health Recovery (ICMHR) · Veterans Health Administration · Los Angeles, California · $111502–$190737
- Clinical Psychologist (Mental Health) · Military Treatment Facilities under DHA · Naval Medical Center, San Diego, California · $121585–$158062
- Social Worker (Mental Health Consultant) · Military Treatment Facilities under DHA · Edwards AFB, California · $104349–$135657
- Senior Social Worker - Primary Care Mental Health Integration · Veterans Health Administration · Visalia, California · $100014–$130020
Openings are read from employers’ own career pages and public job boards and change daily. Search all openings (free account) to filter by distance, pay and how well you qualify.
What it takes
Preparation: Extensive preparation (graduate degree and/or many years of experience). Most hold a master’s degree.
Skills that matter most
Knowledge areas
Full profile, interests that fit, certifications and training: Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers.
Licenses and training in California
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers pay in other states
Related occupations
Four short assessments and your background, scored against mental health and substance abuse social workers and 13,000 other careers — with the reasons. Free.
O*NET-SOC 21-1023.00. Pay: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, California, annual.