Mental Health Specialist Jobs in California

Mental Health Specialist jobs in California are among the most actively hiring in the country, concentrated in community mental health centers, county behavioral health departments, school districts, and integrated healthcare systems, with openings at every level from entry-level case aides through licensed senior clinicians. Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego lead hiring volume, with large employers such as Kaiser Permanente, Cedars-Sinai, and the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health maintaining consistent demand. The most sought-after specialties are crisis intervention, substance use disorder counseling, and trauma-informed care. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles44+
Top employerHealthRIGHT 360
Top cityLos Angeles, CA
Cities hiring28
Work type86% On-site
Top industryHealthcare

Showing 5 of 44+ Mental Health Specialist jobs

SCAN Health Plan
Mental Health Specialist LCSW
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SCAN Health Plan
Added 2w ago
Mental Health Specialist LCSW
SCAN Health Plan
West Hollywood, California
Nursing
Allied Health
Healthcare Administration
Mental & Behavioral Health
Social Work & Counseling
Patient Services & Wellbeing
$80k - $116k/yr
On-Site
Master's
1,001-5,000

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STARS Behavioral Health Group
Licensed Associate Mental Health Specialist II
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STARS Behavioral Health Group
Added 1mo ago
Licensed Associate Mental Health Specialist II
STARS Behavioral Health Group
Coachella, California
Allied Health
Healthcare Administration
Mental & Behavioral Health
Social Work & Counseling
Patient Services & Wellbeing
$68k - $70k/yr
On-Site
Master's
1,001-5,000

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JWCH Institute
Mental Health Rehabilitation Specialist
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JWCH Institute
Added 3w ago
Mental Health Rehabilitation Specialist
JWCH Institute
Los Angeles, California
Allied Health
Healthcare Administration
Mental & Behavioral Health
Social Work & Counseling
Patient Services & Wellbeing
$55k - $56k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's

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Mckinley Children's Center
Mental Health Rehabilitation Specialist
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Mckinley Children's Center
Added 1mo ago
Mental Health Rehabilitation Specialist
Mckinley Children's Center
Hemet, California
Allied Health
Healthcare Administration
Mental & Behavioral Health
Social Work & Counseling
$25 - $28/hr
On-Site
Bachelor's

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SCAN Health Plan
Behavioral Health Specialist
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SCAN Health Plan
Added 1mo ago
Behavioral Health Specialist
SCAN Health Plan
Sacramento, California
Nursing
Allied Health
Healthcare Administration
Mental & Behavioral Health
$34 - $49/hr
Hybrid
Master's
1,001-5,000

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Mental Health Specialist Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Los Angeles
6 jobs
San Francisco
4 jobs
Pomona
3 jobs
San Mateo
3 jobs
Escondido
2 jobs
Fresno
2 jobs
Stockton
2 jobs
Woodland
2 jobs
Coachella
1 jobs

Mental Health Specialist Job Market in California

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

Who's Hiring

  • HealthRIGHT 360
    HealthRIGHT 36010
  • JWCH Institute
    JWCH Institute4
  • LifeStance Health
    LifeStance Health4
  • University of California, San Francisco
    University of California, San Francisco3
  • County of San Mateo
    County of San Mateo2

Top Industries Hiring

  • Healthcare & Medical Services30
  • Education10
  • Insurance4
  • Government & Public Sector1
  • Non-Profit & Social Services1

What California Employers Look For

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

  • Active California licensure such as LCSW, MFT, or LPCC issued by the BBS
  • Master's degree in social work, counseling, psychology, or a related clinical field
  • Experience conducting individual and group therapy or psychosocial assessments
  • Knowledge of California Welfare and Institutions Code and Medi-Cal documentation standards
  • Proficiency with electronic health records systems such as Epic or Netsmart myAvatar
  • Bilingual fluency in Spanish preferred for roles serving California's diverse communities

Mental Health Specialist Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a mental health specialist in California?

California requires most licensed mental health specialists to hold credentials issued by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, including the Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor designations. Each path starts with a qualifying master's degree, followed by supervised post-degree hours and a board exam. Applicants submit through the BBS and must maintain continuing education to keep their license active.

Which companies hire mental health specialists in California?

Employers hiring mental health specialists in California right now include HealthRIGHT 360, JWCH Institute, and LifeStance Health, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's county behavioral health systems, federally qualified health centers, and large integrated health networks like Kaiser Permanente are among the most consistent sources of full-time openings.

Which California cities have the most mental health specialist jobs?

Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Pomona have the most mental health specialist openings in California. Los Angeles dominates because of its scale, its dense network of county-funded clinics, and large health systems headquartered there, while San Francisco and San Diego draw significant demand from integrated health networks, Veterans Affairs facilities, and county behavioral health departments serving large urban populations.

Are there remote mental health specialist jobs in California?

Yes, and more than most clinical fields, since telehealth has become a firmly established delivery model for outpatient therapy and case management. About 14% of mental health specialist openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, reflecting how widely California health plans and county programs have adopted virtual care. Telehealth counseling, care coordination, and utilization review roles are the most consistently remote.

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

The most realistic entry path is a mental health rehabilitation specialist or psychiatric technician role, which California employers fill without requiring full licensure. The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, Telecare Corporation, and Seneca Family of Agencies run associate-level programs and internship pipelines that bring in candidates completing their supervised hours. A registered intern status with the BBS, which you can obtain immediately after graduation, is the credential that signals readiness to county systems and community clinics hiring entry-level clinicians.

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

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

See All 44 Mental Health Specialist Jobs in California

Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Mental Health Specialist Jobs