Salary comparison
Healthcare Social Workers: Modesto vs Santa Maria
Modesto, CA pays about 2.2% more for healthcare social workers on paper — $95,250 vs $93,200. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Modesto comes out ahead by $2,050 a year in real buying power.
Modesto, CA
$95,250
$72,380
$119,980
$45.79
100
$95,250/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Santa Maria, CA
$93,200
$73,390
$102,940
$44.81
100
$93,200/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $2,050 a year (2.2%) in favor of Modesto. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Modesto runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Santa Maria sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Modesto is the better deal by $2,050 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Santa Maria to Modesto for this role, the raise needs to beat 2.2% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do healthcare social workers earn more, Modesto or Santa Maria?
Modesto pays $95,250 on median — about 2.2% more than Santa Maria ($93,200). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Modesto. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Modesto gives you roughly$95,250 of real buying power versus $93,200 in the other city.