Child, Family, and School Social Workers Salary in Santa Cruz, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA

Median annual salary $61,310 +4.7% vs national
Median hourly $29.48
10th percentile $41,600
90th percentile $92,570
Employed locally 390
National median $58,570

Compare Child, Family, and School Social Workers salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Santa Cruz, CA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Child, Family, and School Social Workers
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Santa Cruz, CA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $41,600
    25th
    $49,480
    50th (median)
    $61,310
    75th
    $76,320
    90th
    $92,570

    Santa Cruz economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $109,266 2023 • Census ACS
    Child, Family, and School Social Workers salary vs area income 56% Median Child, Family, and School Social Workers salary is 44% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Child, Family, and School Social Workers

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Trenton-Princeton, NJ $82,410
    Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $80,280
    Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $79,840
    Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT $78,950
    Connecticut $78,940
    District of Columbia $78,920

    Nearby metros — Child, Family, and School Social Workers salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $78,700
    Hanford-Corcoran, CA $78,250
    Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $76,600
    Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $75,940
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $71,810
    Salinas, CA $70,780

    Related occupations in Santa Cruz, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$83,300
    Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$58,310
    Social and Human Service Assistants$51,590
    Rehabilitation Counselors$50,400
    Healthcare Social Workers$93,230
    Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other$61,910

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Child, Family, and School Social Workers make per hour in Santa Cruz?

    The median hourly wage for Child, Family, and School Social Workers in Santa Cruz, CA is $29.48, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $44.76 or more per hour.

    Is Santa Cruz above or below average for Child, Family, and School Social Workers salaries?

    The median Child, Family, and School Social Workers salary in Santa Cruz, CA is 4.7% above the national median of $58,570. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Child, Family, and School Social Workers in Santa Cruz?

    Entry-level Child, Family, and School Social Workers (10th percentile) earn around $41,600 per year in Santa Cruz, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $49,480.