21 Series · SOC 21-1023
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $60,280
- Median / year
- $104,170
- Top 10% earn
- +9.7%
- Growth '23–'33
- 132,810
- US workers
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers earn a median of $60,280 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $60,280, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $39,740 (10th percentile) to $104,170 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 132,810 US workers. New York pays the most ($79,380), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers earn a median of $60,280, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 49% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Community and Social Service, it ranks #8 of 17 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 9.7% by 2033.
- $60,280
- Median annual wage
- Top 51%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #8 of 17
- in Community and Social Service
- 2.6×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: New York at $79,380. Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers (SOC 21-1023) pays a national median of $60,280 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $39,740 at the 10th percentile to $104,170 at the 90th, with a mean of $68,030 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 132,810 Americans work in this occupation across 52 reporting states and 401 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +9.7% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as much faster than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 13,500 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Master's degree and internship/residency of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.3 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.5 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. New York pays the highest state median at $79,380, which is +32% above the national figure. The top metro is Vallejo, CA at $122,930 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
BLS OEWS May 2025 132,810 jobs Median $60,280/yr
Median Salary
$60,280
per year
Median Hourly
$28.98/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$68,030
average
Employment
132,810
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$60,280 Bottom 49% higher than 49% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 21-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 17 21-series occupations with growth data, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers sits on the faster-growing side at +9.7% growth and $60,280 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+9.7%
Much faster than average
Annual Openings
13,500
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Master's degree
On-the-Job Training
Internship/residency
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings → A
Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
0.3/100K
Injury Rate
0.5/100
Danger Index
2.2/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Social Perceptiveness 4.3
Active Listening 4.1
Speaking 4.1
Reading Comprehension 4.0
Critical Thinking 4.0
Monitoring 4.0
Coordination 3.9
Service Orientation 3.9
Complex Problem Solving 3.9
Writing 3.8
Knowledge Areas
Therapy and Counseling 4.8
Psychology 4.7
English Language 3.9
Customer and Personal Service 3.8
Education and Training 3.7
Sociology and Anthropology 3.6
Public Safety and Security 3.3
Medicine and Dentistry 3.0
Philosophy and Theology 3.0
Administration and Management 3.0
Key Tasks
- ▸ Counsel clients in individual or group sessions to assist them in dealing with substance abuse, mental or physical illness, poverty, unemployment, or physical abuse.
- ▸ Collaborate with counselors, physicians, or nurses to plan or coordinate treatment, drawing on social work experience and patient needs.
- ▸ Monitor, evaluate, and record client progress with respect to treatment goals.
- ▸ Interview clients, review records, conduct assessments, or confer with other professionals to evaluate the mental or physical condition of clients or patients.
- ▸ Supervise or direct other workers who provide services to clients or patients.
- ▸ Modify treatment plans according to changes in client status.
- ▸ Assist clients in adhering to treatment plans, such as setting up appointments, arranging for transportation to appointments, or providing support.
- ▸ Educate clients or community members about mental or physical illness, abuse, medication, or available community resources.
- ▸ Counsel or aid family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, or supporting the client or patient.
- ▸ Increase social work knowledge by reviewing current literature, conducting social research, or attending seminars, training workshops, or classes.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$39,740
25th Percentile
$47,070
Median
$60,280
75th Percentile
$79,730
90th Percentile
$104,170
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 52 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $79,380 | +32% above national |
| 2 | California | $79,000 | +31% above national |
| 3 | Connecticut | $78,640 | +30% above national |
| 4 | Minnesota | $75,020 | +24% above national |
| 5 | Maryland | $73,580 | +22% above national |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $73,310 | +22% above national |
| 7 | Vermont | $73,210 | +21% above national |
| 8 | Washington | $70,460 | +17% above national |
| 9 | Oregon | $68,210 | +13% above national |
| 10 | New Jersey | $66,590 | +10% above national |
| 11 | New Mexico | $65,640 | +9% above national |
| 12 | Colorado | $65,620 | +9% above national |
| 13 | Virginia | $64,240 | +7% above national |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $63,900 | +6% above national |
| 15 | Nevada | $62,900 | +4% above national |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $62,500 | +4% above national |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $61,860 | +3% above national |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $60,990 | +1% above national |
| 19 | North Dakota | $60,980 | +1% above national |
| 20 | Michigan | $60,830 | +1% above national |
| 21 | Delaware | $60,060 | same as national |
| 22 | Wyoming | $59,310 | 2% below national |
| 23 | Arkansas | $58,590 | 3% below national |
| 24 | North Carolina | $58,210 | 3% below national |
| 25 | Maine | $57,050 | 5% below national |
| 26 | Alaska | $56,710 | 6% below national |
| 27 | Kansas | $56,330 | 7% below national |
| 28 | Hawaii | $54,390 | 10% below national |
| 29 | Idaho | $52,520 | 13% below national |
| 30 | Georgia | $52,030 | 14% below national |
| 31 | Florida | $51,590 | 14% below national |
| 32 | Utah | $50,770 | 16% below national |
| 33 | West Virginia | $50,070 | 17% below national |
| 34 | Illinois | $49,960 | 17% below national |
| 35 | Missouri | $49,560 | 18% below national |
| 36 | Mississippi | $48,970 | 19% below national |
| 37 | South Dakota | $48,920 | 19% below national |
| 38 | Iowa | $48,530 | 19% below national |
| 39 | Indiana | $48,300 | 20% below national |
| 40 | Pennsylvania | $48,290 | 20% below national |
| 41 | Louisiana | $47,100 | 22% below national |
| 42 | Texas | $46,630 | 23% below national |
| 43 | Tennessee | $46,500 | 23% below national |
| 44 | Arizona | $46,380 | 23% below national |
| 45 | Ohio | $46,080 | 24% below national |
| 46 | Montana | $45,160 | 25% below national |
| 47 | Nebraska | $43,240 | 28% below national |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $43,120 | 28% below national |
| 49 | Kentucky | $42,570 | 29% below national |
| 50 | Alabama | $41,500 | 31% below national |
| 51 | South Carolina | $39,930 | 34% below national |
| 52 | Puerto Rico | $26,500 | 56% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 401 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vallejo, CA | $122,930 | +104% above national |
| 2 | Cheyenne, WY | $118,900 | +97% above national |
| 3 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $109,050 | +81% above national |
| 4 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $98,800 | +64% above national |
| 5 | Salinas, CA | $97,200 | +61% above national |
| 6 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $96,420 | +60% above national |
| 7 | Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $93,920 | +56% above national |
| 8 | Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $91,730 | +52% above national |
| 9 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $87,550 | +45% above national |
| 10 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $87,370 | +45% above national |
| 11 | Boulder, CO | $84,450 | +40% above national |
| 12 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $84,260 | +40% above national |
| 13 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $84,190 | +40% above national |
| 14 | Mankato, MN | $83,530 | +39% above national |
| 15 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $83,150 | +38% above national |
| 16 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $82,450 | +37% above national |
| 17 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $81,990 | +36% above national |
| 18 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $81,240 | +35% above national |
| 19 | Grand Junction, CO | $80,030 | +33% above national |
| 20 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $79,940 | +33% above national |
| 21 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $79,870 | +32% above national |
| 22 | Elmira, NY | $79,410 | +32% above national |
| 23 | Modesto, CA | $78,880 | +31% above national |
| 24 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $78,640 | +30% above national |
| 25 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $78,410 | +30% above national |
| 26 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $78,350 | +30% above national |
| 27 | Ithaca, NY | $78,220 | +30% above national |
| 28 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $78,210 | +30% above national |
| 29 | Las Cruces, NM | $77,990 | +29% above national |
| 30 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $77,980 | +29% above national |
| 31 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $77,770 | +29% above national |
| 32 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $77,500 | +29% above national |
| 33 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $77,410 | +28% above national |
| 34 | Salisbury, MD | $77,360 | +28% above national |
| 35 | Rochester, MN | $77,030 | +28% above national |
| 36 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $76,970 | +28% above national |
| 37 | Santa Fe, NM | $76,860 | +28% above national |
| 38 | Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $76,290 | +27% above national |
| 39 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $75,570 | +25% above national |
| 40 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $75,020 | +24% above national |
| 41 | Albany, OR | $74,980 | +24% above national |
| 42 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $74,540 | +24% above national |
| 43 | Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $74,460 | +24% above national |
| 44 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $74,380 | +23% above national |
| 45 | Logan, UT-ID | $73,750 | +22% above national |
| 46 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $73,740 | +22% above national |
| 47 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $73,210 | +21% above national |
| 48 | Utica-Rome, NY | $73,200 | +21% above national |
| 49 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $73,040 | +21% above national |
| 50 | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $72,180 | +20% above national |
| 51 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $71,990 | +19% above national |
| 52 | Kingston, NY | $71,790 | +19% above national |
| 53 | Glens Falls, NY | $71,710 | +19% above national |
| 54 | Syracuse, NY | $71,170 | +18% above national |
| 55 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $71,140 | +18% above national |
| 56 | Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $71,070 | +18% above national |
| 57 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $70,920 | +18% above national |
| 58 | Duluth, MN-WI | $70,390 | +17% above national |
| 59 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $70,360 | +17% above national |
| 60 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $70,230 | +17% above national |
| 61 | Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $70,220 | +16% above national |
| 62 | Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $69,960 | +16% above national |
| 63 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $69,920 | +16% above national |
| 64 | Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $69,640 | +16% above national |
| 65 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $69,580 | +15% above national |
| 66 | Binghamton, NY | $68,940 | +14% above national |
| 67 | Rochester, NY | $68,880 | +14% above national |
| 68 | Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $68,850 | +14% above national |
| 69 | Napa, CA | $68,830 | +14% above national |
| 70 | Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $68,800 | +14% above national |
| 71 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $68,600 | +14% above national |
| 72 | St. Cloud, MN | $68,240 | +13% above national |
| 73 | Salem, OR | $68,210 | +13% above national |
| 74 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $68,060 | +13% above national |
| 75 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $68,020 | +13% above national |
| 76 | North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $67,370 | +12% above national |
| 77 | New Haven, CT | $67,330 | +12% above national |
| 78 | East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $66,930 | +11% above national |
| 79 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $66,770 | +11% above national |
| 80 | San Angelo, TX | $66,770 | +11% above national |
| 81 | Bend, OR | $66,710 | +11% above national |
| 82 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $66,590 | +10% above national |
| 83 | Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $66,390 | +10% above national |
| 84 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $66,250 | +10% above national |
| 85 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $66,100 | +10% above national |
| 86 | Bellingham, WA | $65,770 | +9% above national |
| 87 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $65,660 | +9% above national |
| 88 | Pueblo, CO | $65,620 | +9% above national |
| 89 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $65,500 | +9% above national |
| 90 | Wichita, KS | $65,300 | +8% above national |
| 91 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $65,220 | +8% above national |
| 92 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $65,020 | +8% above national |
| 93 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $64,990 | +8% above national |
| 94 | Fresno, CA | $64,910 | +8% above national |
| 95 | Redding, CA | $64,760 | +7% above national |
| 96 | Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $64,660 | +7% above national |
| 97 | Visalia, CA | $64,540 | +7% above national |
| 98 | West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $64,340 | +7% above national |
| 99 | Grants Pass, OR | $64,130 | +6% above national |
| 100 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $64,080 | +6% above national |
| 101 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $63,920 | +6% above national |
| 102 | Colorado Springs, CO | $63,860 | +6% above national |
| 103 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $63,830 | +6% above national |
| 104 | Ann Arbor, MI | $63,770 | +6% above national |
| 105 | Wichita Falls, TX | $63,770 | +6% above national |
| 106 | Madison, WI | $63,690 | +6% above national |
| 107 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $63,620 | +6% above national |
| 108 | Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | $63,610 | +6% above national |
| 109 | Asheville, NC | $63,400 | +5% above national |
| 110 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $63,100 | +5% above national |
| 111 | Richmond, VA | $63,020 | +5% above national |
| 112 | Barnstable Town, MA | $62,990 | +4% above national |
| 113 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $62,900 | +4% above national |
| 114 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $62,770 | +4% above national |
| 115 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $62,680 | +4% above national |
| 116 | Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $62,620 | +4% above national |
| 117 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $62,520 | +4% above national |
| 118 | Jonesboro, AR | $62,440 | +4% above national |
| 119 | Appleton, WI | $62,100 | +3% above national |
| 120 | West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $62,100 | +3% above national |
| 121 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $62,010 | +3% above national |
| 122 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $61,990 | +3% above national |
| 123 | Saginaw, MI | $61,980 | +3% above national |
| 124 | Charlottesville, VA | $61,970 | +3% above national |
| 125 | Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $61,920 | +3% above national |
| 126 | Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $61,800 | +3% above national |
| 127 | Wausau, WI | $61,780 | +2% above national |
| 128 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $61,760 | +2% above national |
| 129 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $61,500 | +2% above national |
| 130 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $61,350 | +2% above national |
| 131 | Albuquerque, NM | $61,280 | +2% above national |
| 132 | Medford, OR | $60,940 | +1% above national |
| 133 | Bismarck, ND | $60,850 | +1% above national |
| 134 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $60,800 | +1% above national |
| 135 | Bangor, ME | $60,700 | +1% above national |
| 136 | Worcester, MA | $60,480 | same as national |
| 137 | Midland, MI | $60,440 | same as national |
| 138 | Gainesville, GA | $60,430 | same as national |
| 139 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $60,390 | same as national |
| 140 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $60,340 | same as national |
| 141 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $60,270 | same as national |
| 142 | Flint, MI | $60,250 | same as national |
| 143 | Springfield, MA | $60,250 | same as national |
| 144 | Eau Claire, WI | $60,210 | same as national |
| 145 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $60,160 | same as national |
| 146 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $60,160 | same as national |
| 147 | Winston-Salem, NC | $60,110 | same as national |
| 148 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $60,100 | same as national |
| 149 | West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $59,990 | same as national |
| 150 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $59,930 | 1% below national |
| 151 | Fargo, ND-MN | $59,870 | 1% below national |
| 152 | Helena, MT | $59,850 | 1% below national |
| 153 | Rocky Mount, NC | $59,780 | 1% below national |
| 154 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $59,760 | 1% below national |
| 155 | Baton Rouge, LA | $59,700 | 1% below national |
| 156 | Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $59,630 | 1% below national |
| 157 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $59,620 | 1% below national |
| 158 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $59,570 | 1% below national |
| 159 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $59,550 | 1% below national |
| 160 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $59,520 | 1% below national |
| 161 | Merced, CA | $59,500 | 1% below national |
| 162 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $59,380 | 1% below national |
| 163 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $59,230 | 2% below national |
| 164 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $59,150 | 2% below national |
| 165 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $59,020 | 2% below national |
| 166 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $59,010 | 2% below national |
| 167 | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $58,980 | 2% below national |
| 168 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $58,970 | 2% below national |
| 169 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $58,960 | 2% below national |
| 170 | Bloomington, IN | $58,880 | 2% below national |
| 171 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $58,830 | 2% below national |
| 172 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $58,770 | 3% below national |
| 173 | Dover, DE | $58,670 | 3% below national |
| 174 | Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area | $58,630 | 3% below national |
| 175 | Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $58,510 | 3% below national |
| 176 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $58,500 | 3% below national |
| 177 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $58,320 | 3% below national |
| 178 | Lynchburg, VA | $58,320 | 3% below national |
| 179 | Roanoke, VA | $58,320 | 3% below national |
| 180 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $58,240 | 3% below national |
| 181 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $58,120 | 4% below national |
| 182 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $58,090 | 4% below national |
| 183 | Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $58,000 | 4% below national |
| 184 | Burlington, NC | $57,880 | 4% below national |
| 185 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $57,720 | 4% below national |
| 186 | Reno, NV | $57,700 | 4% below national |
| 187 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $57,500 | 5% below national |
| 188 | Sandusky, OH | $57,470 | 5% below national |
| 189 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $57,370 | 5% below national |
| 190 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $57,370 | 5% below national |
| 191 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $57,150 | 5% below national |
| 192 | Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $56,970 | 5% below national |
| 193 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $56,860 | 6% below national |
| 194 | Fairbanks-College, AK | $56,800 | 6% below national |
| 195 | Yuba City, CA | $56,790 | 6% below national |
| 196 | Pittsfield, MA | $56,660 | 6% below national |
| 197 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $56,380 | 6% below national |
| 198 | Chico, CA | $56,030 | 7% below national |
| 199 | Ogden, UT | $55,970 | 7% below national |
| 200 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $55,840 | 7% below national |
| 201 | Goldsboro, NC | $55,660 | 8% below national |
| 202 | Gainesville, FL | $55,500 | 8% below national |
| 203 | Iowa City, IA | $55,350 | 8% below national |
| 204 | Traverse City, MI | $55,260 | 8% below national |
| 205 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $55,230 | 8% below national |
| 206 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $55,190 | 8% below national |
| 207 | Wilmington, NC | $54,990 | 9% below national |
| 208 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $54,930 | 9% below national |
| 209 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $54,680 | 9% below national |
| 210 | Fort Wayne, IN | $54,610 | 9% below national |
| 211 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $54,510 | 10% below national |
| 212 | Jacksonville, FL | $54,420 | 10% below national |
| 213 | Green Bay, WI | $54,200 | 10% below national |
| 214 | Sheboygan, WI | $54,160 | 10% below national |
| 215 | Columbia, MO | $54,140 | 10% below national |
| 216 | Hattiesburg, MS | $53,870 | 11% below national |
| 217 | Yakima, WA | $53,850 | 11% below national |
| 218 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $53,670 | 11% below national |
| 219 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $53,650 | 11% below national |
| 220 | Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $53,640 | 11% below national |
| 221 | Tallahassee, FL | $53,400 | 11% below national |
| 222 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $53,330 | 12% below national |
| 223 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $53,300 | 12% below national |
| 224 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $53,130 | 12% below national |
| 225 | Chambersburg, PA | $52,750 | 12% below national |
| 226 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $52,730 | 13% below national |
| 227 | Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | $52,020 | 14% below national |
| 228 | Winchester, VA-WV | $51,900 | 14% below national |
| 229 | Topeka, KS | $51,670 | 14% below national |
| 230 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $51,510 | 15% below national |
| 231 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $51,320 | 15% below national |
| 232 | Monroe, LA | $51,250 | 15% below national |
| 233 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $51,150 | 15% below national |
| 234 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $51,110 | 15% below national |
| 235 | West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $50,900 | 16% below national |
| 236 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $50,720 | 16% below national |
| 237 | Dubuque, IA | $50,700 | 16% below national |
| 238 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $50,580 | 16% below national |
| 239 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $50,570 | 16% below national |
| 240 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $50,520 | 16% below national |
| 241 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $50,360 | 16% below national |
| 242 | Jefferson City, MO | $50,170 | 17% below national |
| 243 | Fayetteville, NC | $50,150 | 17% below national |
| 244 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $50,020 | 17% below national |
| 245 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $49,940 | 17% below national |
| 246 | Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $49,920 | 17% below national |
| 247 | Reading, PA | $49,920 | 17% below national |
| 248 | Cleveland, TN | $49,850 | 17% below national |
| 249 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $49,850 | 17% below national |
| 250 | Casper, WY | $49,770 | 17% below national |
| 251 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $49,750 | 17% below national |
| 252 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $49,700 | 18% below national |
| 253 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $49,590 | 18% below national |
| 254 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $49,520 | 18% below national |
| 255 | Greeley, CO | $49,510 | 18% below national |
| 256 | Anchorage, AK | $49,460 | 18% below national |
| 257 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $49,220 | 18% below national |
| 258 | St. George, UT | $49,190 | 18% below national |
| 259 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $49,180 | 18% below national |
| 260 | Peoria, IL | $49,000 | 19% below national |
| 261 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $49,000 | 19% below national |
| 262 | Morgantown, WV | $48,970 | 19% below national |
| 263 | North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $48,900 | 19% below national |
| 264 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $48,880 | 19% below national |
| 265 | Charleston, WV | $48,790 | 19% below national |
| 266 | El Centro, CA | $48,770 | 19% below national |
| 267 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $48,650 | 19% below national |
| 268 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $48,630 | 19% below national |
| 269 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $48,630 | 19% below national |
| 270 | Jackson, MS | $48,610 | 19% below national |
| 271 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $48,600 | 19% below national |
| 272 | Lexington Park, MD | $48,570 | 19% below national |
| 273 | Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $48,530 | 19% below national |
| 274 | Flagstaff, AZ | $48,410 | 20% below national |
| 275 | Tucson, AZ | $48,370 | 20% below national |
| 276 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $48,290 | 20% below national |
| 277 | Columbia, SC | $48,250 | 20% below national |
| 278 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $48,010 | 20% below national |
| 279 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $47,990 | 20% below national |
| 280 | Lima, OH | $47,910 | 21% below national |
| 281 | Columbus, OH | $47,820 | 21% below national |
| 282 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $47,740 | 21% below national |
| 283 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $47,630 | 21% below national |
| 284 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $47,390 | 21% below national |
| 285 | Springfield, MO | $47,370 | 21% below national |
| 286 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $47,270 | 22% below national |
| 287 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $47,240 | 22% below national |
| 288 | Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | $47,120 | 22% below national |
| 289 | Pittsburgh, PA | $47,100 | 22% below national |
| 290 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $47,030 | 22% below national |
| 291 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $46,940 | 22% below national |
| 292 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $46,940 | 22% below national |
| 293 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $46,860 | 22% below national |
| 294 | Alexandria, LA | $46,830 | 22% below national |
| 295 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $46,830 | 22% below national |
| 296 | Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $46,830 | 22% below national |
| 297 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $46,810 | 22% below national |
| 298 | Longview-Kelso, WA | $46,790 | 22% below national |
| 299 | Akron, OH | $46,760 | 22% below national |
| 300 | Lancaster, PA | $46,680 | 23% below national |
| 301 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $46,630 | 23% below national |
| 302 | Toledo, OH | $46,600 | 23% below national |
| 303 | Boise City, ID | $46,570 | 23% below national |
| 304 | Lubbock, TX | $46,550 | 23% below national |
| 305 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $46,500 | 23% below national |
| 306 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $46,430 | 23% below national |
| 307 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $46,410 | 23% below national |
| 308 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $46,380 | 23% below national |
| 309 | Missoula, MT | $46,360 | 23% below national |
| 310 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $46,340 | 23% below national |
| 311 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $46,130 | 23% below national |
| 312 | Springfield, IL | $46,010 | 24% below national |
| 313 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $45,930 | 24% below national |
| 314 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $45,930 | 24% below national |
| 315 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $45,920 | 24% below national |
| 316 | Pocatello, ID | $45,760 | 24% below national |
| 317 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $45,740 | 24% below national |
| 318 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $45,720 | 24% below national |
| 319 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $45,670 | 24% below national |
| 320 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $45,660 | 24% below national |
| 321 | Knoxville, TN | $45,660 | 24% below national |
| 322 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $45,640 | 24% below national |
| 323 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $45,390 | 25% below national |
| 324 | Cleveland, OH | $45,390 | 25% below national |
| 325 | Columbus, IN | $45,390 | 25% below national |
| 326 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $45,360 | 25% below national |
| 327 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $45,290 | 25% below national |
| 328 | Rockford, IL | $45,280 | 25% below national |
| 329 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $45,260 | 25% below national |
| 330 | Great Falls, MT | $45,160 | 25% below national |
| 331 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $45,130 | 25% below national |
| 332 | Springfield, OH | $45,120 | 25% below national |
| 333 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $45,110 | 25% below national |
| 334 | York-Hanover, PA | $45,050 | 25% below national |
| 335 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $44,950 | 25% below national |
| 336 | Idaho Falls, ID | $44,920 | 25% below national |
| 337 | Omaha, NE-IA | $44,730 | 26% below national |
| 338 | Lincoln, NE | $44,720 | 26% below national |
| 339 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $44,700 | 26% below national |
| 340 | Oklahoma City, OK | $44,690 | 26% below national |
| 341 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $44,510 | 26% below national |
| 342 | Tulsa, OK | $44,500 | 26% below national |
| 343 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $44,480 | 26% below national |
| 344 | Joplin, MO-KS | $44,420 | 26% below national |
| 345 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $44,360 | 26% below national |
| 346 | Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $44,280 | 27% below national |
| 347 | Rapid City, SD | $44,250 | 27% below national |
| 348 | El Paso, TX | $44,150 | 27% below national |
| 349 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $44,100 | 27% below national |
| 350 | Altoona, PA | $44,060 | 27% below national |
| 351 | Evansville, IN | $44,000 | 27% below national |
| 352 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $44,000 | 27% below national |
| 353 | Mansfield, OH | $43,980 | 27% below national |
| 354 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $43,890 | 27% below national |
| 355 | North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $43,890 | 27% below national |
| 356 | Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $43,870 | 27% below national |
| 357 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $43,640 | 28% below national |
| 358 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $43,490 | 28% below national |
| 359 | Ocala, FL | $43,400 | 28% below national |
| 360 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $43,380 | 28% below national |
| 361 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $43,380 | 28% below national |
| 362 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $43,380 | 28% below national |
| 363 | Billings, MT | $43,310 | 28% below national |
| 364 | Abilene, TX | $43,140 | 28% below national |
| 365 | Montgomery, AL | $42,910 | 29% below national |
| 366 | Elizabethtown, KY | $42,860 | 29% below national |
| 367 | Morristown, TN | $42,800 | 29% below national |
| 368 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $42,780 | 29% below national |
| 369 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $42,570 | 29% below national |
| 370 | Corpus Christi, TX | $42,230 | 30% below national |
| 371 | Johnson City, TN | $42,170 | 30% below national |
| 372 | Waco, TX | $42,140 | 30% below national |
| 373 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $42,060 | 30% below national |
| 374 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $42,040 | 30% below national |
| 375 | Bowling Green, KY | $41,860 | 31% below national |
| 376 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $41,240 | 32% below national |
| 377 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $41,080 | 32% below national |
| 378 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $40,830 | 32% below national |
| 379 | Greenville, NC | $40,520 | 33% below national |
| 380 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $40,480 | 33% below national |
| 381 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $40,370 | 33% below national |
| 382 | Albany, GA | $39,980 | 34% below national |
| 383 | Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $39,610 | 34% below national |
| 384 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $39,220 | 35% below national |
| 385 | Mobile, AL | $38,970 | 35% below national |
| 386 | East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $38,530 | 36% below national |
| 387 | Birmingham, AL | $38,140 | 37% below national |
| 388 | Northwest Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $37,730 | 37% below national |
| 389 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $37,720 | 37% below national |
| 390 | Longview, TX | $37,630 | 38% below national |
| 391 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $37,580 | 38% below national |
| 392 | Owensboro, KY | $37,490 | 38% below national |
| 393 | Jackson, TN | $37,170 | 38% below national |
| 394 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $36,770 | 39% below national |
| 395 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $36,360 | 40% below national |
| 396 | Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $36,330 | 40% below national |
| 397 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $36,210 | 40% below national |
| 398 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $35,590 | 41% below national |
| 399 | Terre Haute, IN | $35,060 | 42% below national |
| 400 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $26,500 | 56% below national |
| 401 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $25,880 | 57% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 21 (community and social service) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers make? ▼
The median annual salary for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers is $60,280 ($28.98/hour). The salary range spans from $39,740 at the 10th percentile to $104,170 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers the most? ▼
New York pays the highest median salary for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers at $79,380/year, which is +32% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers is Master's degree. On-the-job training: Internship/residency.
How dangerous is being a Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers? ▼
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers has a safety grade of A (Very Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 0.3 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 0.5 per 100 workers.
Is Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers a good career? ▼
Employment for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers is projected to grow 9.7% from 2024 to 2034, which is much faster than average. About 13,500 openings are projected each year.
How does Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers pay vary by state? ▼
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is New York at $79,380/year, while Oklahoma pays the least at $43,120/year. BLS data covers 52 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers is Vallejo, CA at $122,930/year. BLS reports wage data for 401 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.
What to do with this data
How to use Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $79,730/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: New York leads at $79,380/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.