What is the average Social Worker salary for Santa Cruz, CA?
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As of February 01, 2026, the average Social Worker salary in Santa Cruz, CA is $77,924. The chart below represents localized salaries for some of our most popular Social Worker job titles in Santa Cruz, CA. Salaries can vary greatly depending on numerous factors, including position, location, years of experience, and level of education. Salary.com’s team of Certified Compensation Professionals analyzed survey data collected from thousands of HR departments at companies of all sizes and industries to compile a range of salaries for various Social Worker job titles in Santa Cruz, CA. Apply your personal criteria to one of the job titles below to get your personalized salary estimate.
Social Worker Salaries in Santa Cruz, CA
| Job Title | Salary | Hourly Rate | Location | Date Updated |
| Licensed Clinical Social Worker | $96,674 | $46.48 | Santa Cruz, CA | February 01, 2026 |
| Medical Social Worker (MSW) | $83,270 | $40.03 | Santa Cruz, CA | February 01, 2026 |
| Medical Social Worker (BSW) | $71,669 | $34.46 | Santa Cruz, CA | February 01, 2026 |
| Social Worker (MSW) | $85,321 | $41.02 | Santa Cruz, CA | February 01, 2026 |
| Social Worker (BSW) | $77,459 | $37.24 | Santa Cruz, CA | February 01, 2026 |
| Social Worker - Master's | $85,330 | $41.02 | Santa Cruz, CA | February 01, 2026 |
| Social Worker - Bachelor's | $77,490 | $37.25 | Santa Cruz, CA | February 01, 2026 |
| Geriatric Social Worker | $96,912 | $46.59 | Santa Cruz, CA | February 01, 2026 |
| Hospice Social Worker | $61,849 | $29.74 | Santa Cruz, CA | February 01, 2026 |
| Forensic Social Worker | $77,441 | $37.23 | Santa Cruz, CA | February 01, 2026 |
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Licensed Clinical Social Worker provides clinical social work services to patients and their families. Counsels and provides crisis intervention for patients, including assessment and treatment of emotional and behavioral problems. Being a Licensed Clinical Social Worker coaches patients on how to manage ongoing health conditions and provides therapy to help patients make positive behavior changes. Requires a master's degree in social work. Additionally, Licensed Clinical Social Worker requires Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Requires the applicable State License to Practice Clinical Social Work. Typically reports to a head of a unit/department. Licensed Clinical Social Worker's years of experience requirement may be unspecified. Certification and/or licensing in the position's specialty is the main requirement. Licensed Clinical Social Worker Salaries in Santa Cruz, CAAlternate Job Titles:Clinical Social Worker - LCSWCategory : Healthcare - Practitioners
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Medical Social Worker (MSW) provides social work services to hospital patients and their families. Counsels and provides crisis intervention for patients, including assessment and treatment of emotional and behavioral problems related to hospitalization. Being a Medical Social Worker (MSW) participates as a member of multi-disciplinary team and may assist patients in treatment planning. May contribute to the formulation of discharge plans. Additionally, Medical Social Worker (MSW) may take a leadership role on more complex cases. Requires a master's degree of social work. Typically reports to a manager. Medical Social Worker (MSW)'s years of experience requirement may be unspecified. Certification and/or licensing in the position's specialty is the main requirement. Medical Social Worker (MSW) Salaries in Santa Cruz, CAAlternate Job Titles:Clinical Social Worker - MSW
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Medical Social Worker (BSW) provides social work services to hospital patients and their families. Counsels and provides crisis intervention for patients, including assessment and treatment of emotional and behavioral problems related to hospitalization. Being a Medical Social Worker (BSW) participates as a member of multi-disciplinary team and may assist patients in treatment planning. May contribute to the formulation of discharge plans. Additionally, Medical Social Worker (BSW) requires a bachelor's degree of social work. Typically reports to a manager. Medical Social Worker (BSW)'s years of experience requirement may be unspecified. Certification and/or licensing in the position's specialty is the main requirement. Medical Social Worker (BSW) Salaries in Santa Cruz, CAAlternate Job Titles:Clinical Social Worker - BSWCategory : Non-Profit and Social Services
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Social Worker (MSW) interviews clients and their families and coordinates and plans programs and activities to meet their social and emotional needs. Provides crisis intervention and assists families in understanding the implications and complexities of the life situation and its impact on lifestyle. Being a Social Worker (MSW) provides professional social work assistance to clients and families as related to illness, disease, hospitalization, financial and educational needs by utilizing a variety of modalities in all areas of service. Responsibilities also include involvement in the discharge planning process. Additionally, Social Worker (MSW) requires a master's degree. Typically reports to a manager. Social Worker (MSW)'s years of experience requirement may be unspecified. Certification and/or licensing in the position's specialty is the main requirement. Social Worker (MSW) Salaries in Santa Cruz, CAAlternate Job Titles:Community Social Worker -MSW, Licensed Social Worker- MSW, Social Worker - Master'sCategory : Non-Profit and Social Services
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Social Worker (BSW) interviews clients and their families and coordinates and plans programs and activities to meet their social and emotional needs. Provides crisis intervention and assists families in understanding the implications and complexities of a life situation and its impact on lifestyle. Being a Social Worker (BSW) identifies, assesses, and coordinates client cases; and anticipates their needs related to illness, hospitalization, finances, education, and home/community service. Serves as a liaison between health care facilities and government agencies. Additionally, Social Worker (BSW) requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager. Social Worker (BSW)'s years of experience requirement may be unspecified. Certification and/or licensing in the position's specialty is the main requirement. Social Worker (BSW) Salaries in Santa Cruz, CAAlternate Job Titles:Community Social Worker - BSW, Licensed Social Worker- BSW, Social Worker - Bachelor'sCategory : Non-Profit and Social Services
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The Social Worker - Master's provides crisis intervention and assists families in understanding the implications and complexities of the life situation and its impact on lifestyle. Interviews clients and their families and coordinates and plans programs and activities to meet their social and emotional needs. Being a Social Worker - Master's responsibilities also include involvement in the discharge planning process. Provides professional social work assistance to clients and families as related to illness, disease, hospitalization, financial and educational needs by utilizing a variety of modalities in all areas of service. In addition, Social Worker - Master's requires a master's degree. Typically reports to a manager. Social Worker - Master's's years of experience requirement may be unspecified. Certification and/or licensing in the position's specialty is the main requirement. Social Worker - Master's Salaries in Santa Cruz, CAAlternate Job Titles:Social Worker (MSW), Community Social Worker -MSW, Licensed Social Worker- MSWCategory : Non-Profit and Social Services
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The Social Worker - Bachelor's provides crisis intervention and assists families in understanding the implications and complexities of a life situation and its impact on lifestyle. Interviews clients and their families and coordinates and plans programs and activities to meet their social and emotional needs. Being a Social Worker - Bachelor's serves as a liaison between health care facilities and government agencies. Identifies, assesses, and coordinates client cases; and anticipates their needs related to illness, hospitalization, finances, education, and home/community service. In addition, Social Worker - Bachelor's requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager. Social Worker - Bachelor's's years of experience requirement may be unspecified. Certification and/or licensing in the position's specialty is the main requirement. Social Worker - Bachelor's Salaries in Santa Cruz, CAAlternate Job Titles:Social Worker (BSW), Community Social Worker - BSW, Licensed Social Worker- BSWCategory : Non-Profit and Social Services
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Forensic social work is the application of social work to questions and issues relating to law and legal systems. This specialty of the social work profession goes far beyond clinics and psychiatric hospitals for criminal defendants being evaluated and treated on issues of competency and responsibility. A broader definition includes social work practice which in any way is related to legal issues and litigation, both criminal and civil. Child custody issues, involving separation, divorce, neglect, termination of parental rights, the implications of child and spousal abuse, juvenile and adult justice services, corrections, and mandated treatment all fall under this definition. Forensic social worker may also be involved in policy or legislative development intended to improve social justice. Forensic Social Worker Salaries in Santa Cruz, CA