San Mateo County social worker salary, 2025

275 people worked as social workers for San Mateo County in 2025. Those who worked the full year took home an average of $137,387, overtime included.

What is the average social worker salary at San Mateo County?

Official pay range, children's social workers1

$95,243 to $166,920

from the lowest entry salary to the top of the highest title for children's social workers, the largest group

Average take-home, full-year social workers1

$137,387

average base pay $127,156

The largest group of San Mateo County's social workers (63 of 275) hold the title Social Worker III, with an official range of $102,398 to $127,982. Those who worked the full year took home an average of $125,197, within the range.

Social workers
275
187 of them worked the full year
Starting salary
$81,848
bottom of the Social Worker I - Unclassified range
Median take-home
$130,836
the middle social worker: half took home more, half less
Average pay rank
3rd
of 63 California employers

What does each social worker title at San Mateo County pay?

Each bar is the official range for one title, lowest first. The dot marks the average take-home of full-year staff in that title, where at least 5 people stand behind it.1

Children's social workers

  1. Children's Services Social Worker II$95,243 to $119,059 · 12 people
    fewer than 5
  2. Social Worker III$102,398 to $127,982 · fewer than 5 people
    fewer than 5
  3. Children's Services Social Worker III$112,320 to $140,483 · 60 people
    $159,746
  4. Children's Services Social Work Supervisor - E$133,557 to $166,920 · 19 people
    $183,147

Mental health social workers

  1. Psychiatric Social Worker I$99,902 to $124,883 · 35 people
    $120,183
  2. Psychiatric Social Worker II$112,320 to $140,483 · 51 people
    $136,382

General social workers

  1. Social Worker I - Unclassified$81,848 to $91,520 · fewer than 5 people
    fewer than 5
  2. Social Worker I$85,946 to $96,096 · fewer than 5 people
    fewer than 5
  3. IHSSPA Social Worker II$86,840 to $108,576 · fewer than 5 people
    fewer than 5
  4. Social Worker II$86,840 to $108,576 · 9 people
    $98,225
  5. Social Worker II - Unclassified$86,840 to $108,576 · fewer than 5 people
    fewer than 5
  6. IHSSPA Social Worker III$102,398 to $127,982 · fewer than 5 people
    fewer than 5
  7. Social Worker III$102,398 to $127,982 · 63 people
    $125,197
  8. Social Worker III - Unclassified$102,398 to $127,982 · fewer than 5 people
    fewer than 5
  9. IHSSPA Social Worker Supervisor$120,557 to $150,696 · fewer than 5 people
    fewer than 5
  10. Social Work Supervisor$120,557 to $150,696 · fewer than 5 people
    fewer than 5
  11. Social Work Supervisor - Exempt$120,557 to $150,696 · 8 people
    $152,920

Medical social workers

  1. Social Worker III$102,398 to $127,982 · fewer than 5 people
    fewer than 5
  2. Social Work Supervisor$120,557 to $150,696 · fewer than 5 people
    fewer than 5

official range average take-home, full year. "Fewer than 5" means too few full-year people in that title to show.

Does San Mateo County pay social workers more than the counties next door?

Average take-home of full-year social workers: San Mateo County next to its neighboring counties and the whole state.1

1 of San Mateo County's 4 neighboring counties pays more.

Where does San Mateo County rank among California employers?

Every employer with at least 5 full-year social workers, by average take-home.1

All 63 California employers

San Mateo County ranks 3rd of 63, above the middle employer.

San Mateo County
$60k$80k$100k$120k$140k

Middle employer: $90,154

Each bar counts the employers whose average take-home falls in a $5,000 band. The dashed line marks the middle employer.

Pension and health cover at San Mateo County

As reported by the county. Contributions are what the employer paid per full-year social worker, on top of wages.1

Pension formula
2% at 62
the most common formula among San Mateo County's social workers
Employer pension contribution
$28,775
average per year
Health, dental and vision
$19,285
average paid by the employer per year

Questions about social worker pay at San Mateo County

What is the average social worker salary at San Mateo County?

Social workers at San Mateo County who worked the full year took home an average of $137,387 in 2025, overtime included. The middle social worker took home $130,836: half took home more, half less. The official pay range across its social worker titles runs from $95,243 to $166,920.

How much overtime do social workers at San Mateo County earn?

Full-year social workers were paid an average of $6,896 in overtime in 2025. The middle one was paid $0: a few people with a lot of overtime pull the average up.

What pension do social workers at San Mateo County get?

The most common pension formula among San Mateo County's social workers is 2% at 62, as reported by the county. The employer paid an average of $28,775 a year into the pension plan.

More public pay in San Mateo County

Sources for the San Mateo County figures

Every person who held a social worker position at San Mateo County at any point in 2025 counts toward the headcount. Pay figures use only people who worked roughly the full year: those whose regular pay reached at least 90% of the bottom of their official range. Take-home is total wages, including overtime, lump sums and other pay. Averages lead; the median take-home is the middle person's, with half above and half below, and is less pulled by a few people with a lot of overtime. Every figure covers at least 5 people.

  1. State Controller's Office, Government Compensation in California, 2025: positions, official pay ranges, wages, pension formula and employer contributions as reported by San Mateo County.

How we read the data