Rhode Island Median
$60,990
per year
Hourly Rate
$29.32
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+1% vs US median
US median $60,280
State Rank
#18 of 51
800 employed here
How much do Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers make in Rhode Island?
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Rhode Island take home a median of $60,990 annually — roughly $29.32 an hour — which runs 1% above the national median of $60,280.
Within Rhode Island, entry-level pay starts around $42,900 while the top 10% make $135,200 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $49,340 and $110,210 a year.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary range in Rhode Island
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,900 | $20.63 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $49,340 | $23.72 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $60,990 | $29.32 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $110,210 | $52.99 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $135,200 | $65.00 |
|
How Rhode Island compares
Rhode Island ranks 18th out of 51 states and territories for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary in other states
New York $79,380California $79,000Connecticut $78,640Minnesota $75,020Maryland $73,580District of Columbia $73,310Vermont $73,210Washington $70,460Oregon $68,210New Jersey $66,590New Mexico $65,640Colorado $65,620Virginia $64,240New Hampshire $63,900Nevada $62,900Massachusetts $62,500Wisconsin $61,860North Dakota $60,980Michigan $60,830Delaware $60,060Wyoming $59,310Arkansas $58,590North Carolina $58,210Maine $57,050Alaska $56,710Kansas $56,330Hawaii $54,390Idaho $52,520Georgia $52,030Florida $51,590Utah $50,770West Virginia $50,070Illinois $49,960Missouri $49,560Mississippi $48,970South Dakota $48,920Iowa $48,530Indiana $48,300Pennsylvania $48,290Louisiana $47,100Texas $46,630Tennessee $46,500Arizona $46,380Ohio $46,080Montana $45,160Nebraska $43,240Oklahoma $43,120Kentucky $42,570Alabama $41,500South Carolina $39,930
Working as Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Rhode Island
Nationally, about 133,000 people work as Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in the United States. A master's degree (usually 5 to 6 years of college) is typically required.
Considering a move? Compare Rhode Island pay ($60,990) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers make in Rhode Island?
The median Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary in Rhode Island is $60,990 per year, or about $29.32 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $42,900 at the entry level to $135,200 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Rhode Island pay compare to the national average?
Rhode Island pays Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers about 1% more than the national median of $60,280. Rhode Island ranks 18th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Rhode Island a good state for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers?
Yes on pay — Rhode Island pays above the national median for this occupation, at $60,990 a year. About 800 Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers are employed in Rhode Island. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Rhode Island?
The highest-paying occupations in Rhode Island include Emergency Medicine Physician ($512,730), Family Medicine Physician ($467,160), Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($450,370), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.