Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary — US State Breakdown (2025)
✓ Sourced directly from BLS OES · Checked for accuracy at every rebuild · Last updated: 2026-09-02
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US Salary Overview
The national median wage for mental health and substance abuse social workers in the United States is $60,280 per year (gross, before tax), based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025). Around 133,000 people are employed in this occupation nationally. UK data is not available for this occupation — the UK's SOC 2020 classification has no direct equivalent. Signing an offer? Employment contract templates at LawDepot cover offer letters, NDAs and employment agreements.
US Salary Percentiles
| Percentile | Annual (gross) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $39,740 | Entry level / lowest decile |
| 25th | $47,070 | Early career |
| 50th (median) | $60,280 | Typical pay |
| 75th | $79,730 | Experienced |
| 90th | $104,170 | Senior / highest decile |
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Start $1 Trial →Median Salary by State
| State | Median salary | Mean salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $79,380 | $86,110 | 15,000 |
| California | $79,000 | $91,050 | 20,000 |
| Connecticut | $78,640 | $78,250 | 2,000 |
| Minnesota | $75,020 | $74,420 | 4,000 |
| Maryland | $73,580 | $72,980 | 2,000 |
| District of Columbia | $73,310 | $83,340 | 510 |
| Vermont | $73,210 | $76,580 | 320 |
| Washington | $70,460 | $71,710 | 3,000 |
| Oregon | $68,210 | $73,050 | 2,000 |
| New Jersey | $66,590 | $70,930 | 2,000 |
| New Mexico | $65,640 | $69,720 | 800 |
| Colorado | $65,620 | $69,200 | 2,000 |
| Virginia | $64,240 | $72,020 | 4,000 |
| New Hampshire | $63,900 | $75,280 | 320 |
| Nevada | $62,900 | $63,790 | 1,000 |
| Massachusetts | $62,500 | $69,710 | 7,000 |
| Wisconsin | $61,860 | $64,960 | 2,000 |
| Rhode Island | $60,990 | $76,970 | 800 |
| North Dakota | $60,980 | $62,610 | 240 |
| Michigan | $60,830 | $62,940 | 5,000 |
| Delaware | $60,060 | $62,090 | 510 |
| Wyoming | $59,310 | $65,400 | 200 |
| Arkansas | $58,590 | $63,300 | 1,000 |
| North Carolina | $58,210 | $59,880 | 4,000 |
| Maine | $57,050 | $64,330 | 2,000 |
| Alaska | $56,710 | $60,380 | 250 |
| Kansas | $56,330 | $60,380 | 2,000 |
| Hawaii | $54,390 | $62,340 | — |
| Idaho | $52,520 | $60,720 | 510 |
| Georgia | $52,030 | $57,470 | 1,000 |
| Florida | $51,590 | $55,310 | 5,000 |
| Utah | $50,770 | $63,570 | 1,000 |
| West Virginia | $50,070 | $52,000 | 420 |
| Illinois | $49,960 | $58,130 | 3,000 |
| Missouri | $49,560 | $53,470 | 2,000 |
| Mississippi | $48,970 | $50,750 | 920 |
| South Dakota | $48,920 | $53,400 | 230 |
| Iowa | $48,530 | $57,330 | 1,000 |
| Indiana | $48,300 | $53,990 | 2,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,290 | $52,850 | 4,000 |
| Louisiana | $47,100 | $51,070 | 970 |
| Texas | $46,630 | $53,450 | 8,000 |
| Tennessee | $46,500 | $50,000 | 2,000 |
| Arizona | $46,380 | $50,630 | 4,000 |
| Ohio | $46,080 | $51,110 | 6,000 |
| Montana | $45,160 | $52,180 | 740 |
| Nebraska | $43,240 | $45,760 | 900 |
| Oklahoma | $43,120 | $43,230 | 2,000 |
| Kentucky | $42,570 | $45,280 | 1,000 |
| Alabama | $41,500 | $45,480 | 740 |
| South Carolina | $39,930 | $43,820 | 720 |
| Puerto Rico | $26,500 | $30,280 | 350 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for a mental health and substance abuse social workers in the US?
The US national median wage for mental health and substance abuse social workers is $60,280 per year (gross, before tax), based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).
What is the pay range for mental health and substance abuse social workers in the US?
Pay ranges from $39,740 at the 10th percentile to $104,170 at the 90th percentile. This difference typically reflects experience level, employer size, and location.
Which US states pay mental health and substance abuse social workers the most?
The highest-paying states for mental health and substance abuse social workers include New York ($79,380), California ($79,000), Connecticut ($78,640). Pay varies by state due to cost of living, local demand and industry concentration.
How much does mental health and substance abuse social workers salary vary by state?
The gap between the highest- and lowest-paying states is significant — New York ($79,380) pays roughly 200% more than Puerto Rico ($26,500). Check the state breakdown above for the exact figure in your location.
Data: BLS OES, May 2025 · Page built 2026-09-02