How much do Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers make?
The median pay for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in the United States is $60,280 per year — about $28.98 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $39,740, while the most experienced professionals in the top 10% earn $104,170.
That is $1,110 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary range by percentile
Half of all Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers earn between $47,070 and $79,730 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,740 | $19.11 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $47,070 | $22.63 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $60,280 | $28.98 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $79,730 | $38.33 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $104,170 | $50.08 |
Highest-paying states for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. New York leads the country for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers pay at $79,380 a year, followed by California ($79,000) and Connecticut ($78,640). At the other end, South Carolina posts the lowest median at $39,930 — a gap of $39,450 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $79,380 | $38.16 | +32% |
| 2 | California | $79,000 | $37.98 | +31% |
| 3 | Connecticut | $78,640 | $37.81 | +30% |
| 4 | Minnesota | $75,020 | $36.07 | +24% |
| 5 | Maryland | $73,580 | $35.38 | +22% |
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 51 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 133,000 people work as Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $68,030 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a master's degree (usually 5 to 6 years of college) is typically required, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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