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How Much Does a Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker Make?
A mental health and substance abuse social worker in the US earns a median salary of $60,280 a year, or $28.98 an hour (BLS, May 2025). The average is $68,030, and the middle half earn between $47,070 and $79,730.
Mental health and substance abuse social worker pay range
What mental health and substance abuse social workers earn at each point of the pay scale. The 10th percentile is a rough guide to starting pay.
| Percentile | A year | An hour | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th (lowest 10%) | $39,740 | $19.11 | |
| 25th | $47,070 | $22.63 | |
| Median (50th) | $60,280 | $28.98 | |
| 75th | $79,730 | $38.33 | |
| 90th (top 10%) | $104,170 | $50.08 |
The median is 18% more than the $50,980 median for all US jobs. About 132,810 people work as mental health and substance abuse social workers in the US.
After tax and by period
- A week
- $1,159
- Every two weeks
- $2,318
- Twice a month
- $2,512
- A month
- $5,023
At the median salary, before tax.
Mental health and substance abuse social worker salary by state
Sorted by average pay. California pays mental health and substance abuse social workers the most, at $91,050 a year on average.
| State | Average | Median | Jobs | After tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $91,050 | $79,000 | 19,860 | After tax |
| New York | $86,110 | $79,380 | 14,820 | After tax |
| District of Columbia | $83,340 | $73,310 | 510 | After tax |
| Connecticut | $78,250 | $78,640 | 1,540 | After tax |
| Rhode Island | $76,970 | $60,990 | 800 | After tax |
| Vermont | $76,580 | $73,210 | 320 | After tax |
| New Hampshire | $75,280 | $63,900 | 320 | After tax |
| Minnesota | $74,420 | $75,020 | 3,590 | After tax |
| Oregon | $73,050 | $68,210 | 2,230 | After tax |
| Maryland | $72,980 | $73,580 | 2,250 | After tax |
| Virginia | $72,020 | $64,240 | 3,670 | After tax |
| Washington | $71,710 | $70,460 | 3,490 | After tax |
| New Jersey | $70,930 | $66,590 | 2,420 | After tax |
| New Mexico | $69,720 | $65,640 | 800 | After tax |
| Massachusetts | $69,710 | $62,500 | 7,440 | After tax |
| Colorado | $69,200 | $65,620 | 1,640 | After tax |
| Wyoming | $65,400 | $59,310 | 200 | After tax |
| Wisconsin | $64,960 | $61,860 | 1,880 | After tax |
| Maine | $64,330 | $57,050 | 1,860 | After tax |
| Nevada | $63,790 | $62,900 | 1,100 | After tax |
| Utah | $63,570 | $50,770 | 1,240 | After tax |
| Arkansas | $63,300 | $58,590 | 1,040 | After tax |
| Michigan | $62,940 | $60,830 | 4,620 | After tax |
| North Dakota | $62,610 | $60,980 | 240 | After tax |
| Hawaii | $62,340 | $54,390 | – | After tax |
| Delaware | $62,090 | $60,060 | 510 | After tax |
| Idaho | $60,720 | $52,520 | 510 | After tax |
| Alaska | $60,380 | $56,710 | 250 | After tax |
| Kansas | $60,380 | $56,330 | 1,620 | After tax |
| North Carolina | $59,880 | $58,210 | 3,690 | After tax |
| Illinois | $58,130 | $49,960 | 3,460 | After tax |
| Georgia | $57,470 | $52,030 | 1,330 | After tax |
| Iowa | $57,330 | $48,530 | 1,200 | After tax |
| Florida | $55,310 | $51,590 | 5,150 | After tax |
| Indiana | $53,990 | $48,300 | 2,490 | After tax |
| Missouri | $53,470 | $49,560 | 1,640 | After tax |
| Texas | $53,450 | $46,630 | 8,220 | After tax |
| South Dakota | $53,400 | $48,920 | 230 | After tax |
| Pennsylvania | $52,850 | $48,290 | 3,500 | After tax |
| Montana | $52,180 | $45,160 | 740 | After tax |
| West Virginia | $52,000 | $50,070 | 420 | After tax |
| Ohio | $51,110 | $46,080 | 6,050 | After tax |
| Louisiana | $51,070 | $47,100 | 970 | After tax |
| Mississippi | $50,750 | $48,970 | 920 | After tax |
| Arizona | $50,630 | $46,380 | 3,690 | After tax |
| Tennessee | $50,000 | $46,500 | 2,220 | After tax |
| Nebraska | $45,760 | $43,240 | 900 | After tax |
| Alabama | $45,480 | $41,500 | 740 | After tax |
| Kentucky | $45,280 | $42,570 | 1,360 | After tax |
| South Carolina | $43,820 | $39,930 | 720 | After tax |
| Oklahoma | $43,230 | $43,120 | 1,780 | After tax |
| Puerto Rico | $30,280 | $26,500 | 350 |
A dash means BLS did not publish that figure for the state.
Other community and social service jobs
- Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselor $59,350 median
- Social and human service assistant $45,930 median
- Child and family social worker $59,550 median
- Educational, guidance, and career counselor and advisor $64,330 median
- Healthcare social worker $67,880 median
- Rehabilitation counselor $46,850 median
- Probation officer and correctional treatment specialist $66,270 median
- Marriage and family therapist $66,940 median
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (published 2026), for “Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers” (SOC 21-1023). Wages are before tax and leave out self-employed workers. All job salaries
About the Job Salaries
Job Salaries shows what more than 500 US jobs pay, from nurses and electricians to software developers and truck drivers. Each job has its median and average salary, hourly and monthly pay, the pay range from the lowest-paid 10% to the top 10%, and a table of pay in every state. The figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the largest survey of US pay, in its latest release.
How to use it
- 1 Search for a job or pick one from the list.
- 2 Read the median salary, hourly pay and the pay range.
- 3 Check the salary by state to see where the job pays most.
- 4 Open the take-home pay calculator to see the salary after tax.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mental health and substance abuse social worker make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a mental health and substance abuse social worker is $28.98, and the average is $32.71. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $19.11 an hour and the top 10% over $50.08.
How much does a mental health and substance abuse social worker make a month?
At the median salary of $60,280, a mental health and substance abuse social worker earns about $5,023 a month before tax, or $2,318 every two weeks.
Which state pays mental health and substance abuse social workers the most?
California has the highest average pay for a mental health and substance abuse social worker, at $91,050 a year. Next are New York and District of Columbia. Pay is usually higher where living costs are higher, so compare take-home pay too.
What is the starting salary for a mental health and substance abuse social worker?
The lowest-paid 10% of mental health and substance abuse social workers earn less than $39,740 a year, and the lowest 25% less than $47,070. That is a fair guide to starting pay, which depends on the state, the employer and your experience.
How much do the highest-paid mental health and substance abuse social workers make?
The top 10% earn more than $104,170 a year, and the top 25% more than $79,730.
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