Behavioral Health Specialist Jobs in California

Behavioral Health Specialist jobs in California are among the most active in the country, with strong demand across county behavioral health departments, managed care organizations, community mental health centers, and school-based programs, and openings at every level from entry-level case aide through senior clinician. The heaviest hiring concentrates in Los Angeles, San Diego, and the Sacramento region, where large employers such as Dignity Health, Kaiser Permanente, and Alameda County Behavioral Health Services maintain substantial behavioral health workforces. The most in-demand specialties are substance use disorder counseling, co-occurring disorders treatment, and crisis intervention. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles280+
Top employerBlue Rose Consulting Group
Top cityVallejo, CA
Cities hiring123
Work type89% On-site
Top industryHealthcare

Showing 5 of 280+ Behavioral Health Specialist jobs

I
Mental Health and Behavioral Direct Care Worker
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I
New 9h ago
Mental Health and Behavioral Direct Care Worker
Insight For Life Corp
West Covina, California
Business Development
Growth Marketing
Marketing
$17 - $25/hr
On-Site
RBT Certification

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Center for Discovery
Behavioral Health Tech
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Center for Discovery
New 19h ago
Behavioral Health Tech
Center for Discovery
Los Angeles, California
Customer Support
IT Support
Technical Program Management
$17 - $25/hr
On-Site
High school diploma or GED
1,001-5,000

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C
Assistant Deputy Director of Behavioral Health
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C
New 19h ago
Assistant Deputy Director of Behavioral Health
County of Napa, CA
Napa Valley, California
Business Strategy
Compliance & Risk
Consulting & Professional Services
$172k - $208k.8/yr
Master's degree in social work

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Northern Valley Indian Health
School-Based Behavioral Health Therapist (LCSW / LMFT / AMFT / ASW)
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Northern Valley Indian Health
New 22h ago
School-Based Behavioral Health Therapist (LCSW / LMFT / AMFT / ASW)
Northern Valley Indian Health
Woodland, California
Community & Nonprofit Services
Mental & Behavioral Health
Social Work & Counseling
$36 - $55/hr
51-200

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Turning Point Community Programs
Behavioral Health Specialist I
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Turning Point Community Programs
Added 1d ago
Behavioral Health Specialist I
Turning Point Community Programs
Merced, California
Community & Nonprofit Services
Mental & Behavioral Health
Social Work & Counseling
$24 - $26/hr
Bachelor's degree in social work
501-1,000

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Behavioral Health Specialist Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Vallejo
13 jobs
Los Angeles
10 jobs
Sacramento
8 jobs
San Francisco
8 jobs
San Diego
7 jobs
Newport Beach
6 jobs
Fresno
5 jobs
Santa Ana
5 jobs
Heber
4 jobs

Behavioral Health Specialist Job Market in California

A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

  • Blue Rose Consulting Group
    Blue Rose Consulting Group61
  • H
    HiredFirst10
  • Turning Point Community Programs
    Turning Point Community Programs9
  • Kaiser Permanente
    Kaiser Permanente6
  • Sutter Health
    Sutter Health5

Top Industries Hiring

  • Healthcare & Medical Services11
  • Non-Profit & Social Services2
  • Government & Public Sector1

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in behavioral health specialist jobs across California.

  • Active registration with the California BBS or a BBS-recognized licensure pathway required
  • Bachelor's or master's degree in psychology, social work, or a related behavioral science field
  • Experience conducting behavioral health assessments and developing individualized treatment plans
  • Knowledge of California Medi-Cal documentation standards and managed care billing requirements
  • Ability to work within a multidisciplinary team in community mental health or clinical settings
  • Proficiency in electronic health record systems such as Avatar, Epic, or Clinician's Gateway

Behavioral Health Specialist Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a behavioral health specialist in California?

Most behavioral health specialist roles in California require at minimum a bachelor's degree in psychology, social work, or counseling, with many employers preferring a master's degree. Positions involving clinical services typically require registration with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences as an Associate Clinical Social Worker, Associate Professional Clinical Counselor, or Associate Marriage and Family Therapist while working toward full licensure. County behavioral health departments often require passage of civil service exams alongside meeting these educational and registration standards.

Which companies hire behavioral health specialists in California?

Employers hiring behavioral health specialists in California right now include Blue Rose Consulting Group, HiredFirst, and Turning Point Community Programs, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. California's large county-operated behavioral health systems, Medi-Cal managed care plans, and integrated health networks are consistently among the most active sources of full-time openings across the state.

Which California cities have the most behavioral health specialist jobs?

Vallejo, Los Angeles, and Sacramento have the most behavioral health specialist openings in California. Los Angeles dominates because of its scale, the density of county-funded mental health programs, and major health system headquarters, while San Diego and Sacramento generate strong volume through a combination of military-connected behavioral health contracts, county programs, and academic medical centers tied to UC campuses.

Are there remote behavioral health specialist jobs in California?

Yes, but they are less common than in purely desk-based fields, since many behavioral health specialist roles involve direct client contact in clinic, school, or community settings. About 11% of behavioral health specialist openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and the positions most likely to allow remote work are those focused on care coordination, utilization review, or telehealth-delivered counseling rather than hands-on case management or crisis response.

How can I get hired as a behavioral health specialist in California with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is applying for a behavioral health worker, mental health rehabilitation specialist, or community health worker role, which California county behavioral health departments and federally qualified health centers regularly fill without requiring prior clinical licensure. Large California county systems such as Los Angeles Department of Mental Health and San Bernardino County Behavioral Health post entry-level positions designed for recent graduates, and completing a field practicum or internship through a California State University MSW or counseling program is the credential that most consistently converts to a hire.

Where can I find and apply to behavioral health specialist jobs in California?

You can find and apply to behavioral health specialist jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers across the state. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience level, preferred location, and specialty area, then apply directly to the ones that fit.

See All 280+ Behavioral Health Specialist Jobs in California

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