Community Health Worker salary in California
Community Health Workers in California earn a median of $58,050 a year ($27.91 an hour), based on BLS data for 9,500 workers.
Pay ranges from $46,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $88,590 for the top 10%. That is 12% higher than the national median of $51,850. California ranks 7th of 51 states for community health workers pay. There are 0.52 community health workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $63,740, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for community health workers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,320 | $22.27 |
| 25th percentile | $50,040 | $24.06 |
| Median | $58,050 | $27.91 |
| 75th percentile | $72,760 | $34.98 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $88,590 | $42.59 |
| Average (mean) | $63,740 | $30.64 |
Half of community health workers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,837.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,418.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,232.69 |
| Weekly | $1,116.35 |
| Hourly | $27.91 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Community Health Worker salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $80,290 | 70 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $72,710 | 2,090 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $69,630 | 430 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $64,720 | 100 |
| Visalia, CA | $63,960 | 100 |
| Vallejo, CA | $61,130 | 60 |
| Modesto, CA | $60,800 | 70 |
| Yuba City, CA | $60,610 | 40 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $59,470 | 80 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $57,060 | 500 |
| Salinas, CA | $56,810 | 90 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $56,030 | 3,200 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $52,770 | 200 |
| Fresno, CA | $52,520 | 150 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $52,350 | 590 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $52,000 | 70 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $50,950 | 740 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $50,830 | 120 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $49,610 | 90 |
| Chico, CA | $47,240 | 60 |
| Redding, CA | $46,300 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for community health workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $66,680 |
| District of Columbia | $62,510 |
| North Dakota | $59,610 |
| Colorado | $59,260 |
| Hawaii | $58,450 |
| New York | $58,130 |
| California | $58,050 |
| Nevada | $57,730 |
| Washington | $57,070 |
| Delaware | $55,850 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | $59,250 | $28.48 |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $65,200 | $31.35 |
| Social and Human Service Assistants | $51,090 | $24.56 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $86,500 | $41.59 |
| Marriage and Family Therapists | $67,300 | $32.35 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | $79,000 | $37.98 |
| Healthcare Social Worker | $89,660 | $43.11 |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | $58,770 | $28.26 |
| Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists | $103,640 | $49.83 |
| Rehabilitation Counselor | $44,480 | $21.38 |
| Health Education Specialist | $63,610 | $30.58 |
| Counselors, All Other | $48,850 | $23.49 |
| Social Workers, All Other | $63,010 | $30.29 |
| Clergy | $77,710 | $37.36 |
More: Community and Social Service Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 21-1094. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a community health worker make in California?
The median salary for community health workers in California is $58,050 a year, or $27.91 an hour. Pay ranges from $46,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $88,590 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid community health workers make in California?
The top 10% of community health workers in California earn at least $88,590 a year. The top 25% earn $72,760 or more.
What is the starting pay for community health workers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $46,320 a year, and a quarter of community health workers earn $50,040 or less.
How many community health workers work in California?
About 9,500 community health workers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.