Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary in the United States
Median annual wage: $60,280 · Median hourly: $28.98 · Employment: 132,810
Annual Salary Percentiles
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $39,740 | $19.11 |
| 25th | $47,070 | $22.63 |
| Median | $60,280 | $28.98 |
| 75th | $79,730 | $38.33 |
| 90th | $104,170 | $50.08 |
Quick Facts
- Occupational code: 21-1023
- Total U.S. employment: 132,810
- Jobs per 1,000: —
- Hourly salary breakdown
- All-state comparison
Reading the data
Across the United States, 132,810 mental health and substance abuse social workers are employed (— per 1,000 jobs), making this one of the larger occupations in the national economy.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary by State
The table below ranks every state by median annual wage. Click a state for detailed local data.
| State | Median Annual | Median Hourly | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $41,500 | $19.95 | -31.2% | 740 |
| Alaska | $56,710 | $27.26 | -5.9% | 250 |
| Arizona | $46,380 | $22.30 | -23.1% | 3,690 |
| Arkansas | $58,590 | $28.17 | -2.8% | 1,040 |
| California | $79,000 | $37.98 | +31.1% | 19,860 |
| Colorado | $65,620 | $31.55 | +8.9% | 1,640 |
| Connecticut | $78,640 | $37.81 | +30.5% | 1,540 |
| Delaware | $60,060 | $28.88 | -0.4% | 510 |
| District of Columbia | $73,310 | $35.25 | +21.6% | 510 |
| Florida | $51,590 | $24.80 | -14.4% | 5,150 |
| Georgia | $52,030 | $25.02 | -13.7% | 1,330 |
| Hawaii | $54,390 | $26.15 | -9.8% | 0 |
| Idaho | $52,520 | $25.25 | -12.9% | 510 |
| Illinois | $49,960 | $24.02 | -17.1% | 3,460 |
| Indiana | $48,300 | $23.22 | -19.9% | 2,490 |
| Iowa | $48,530 | $23.33 | -19.5% | 1,200 |
| Kansas | $56,330 | $27.08 | -6.6% | 1,620 |
| Kentucky | $42,570 | $20.46 | -29.4% | 1,360 |
| Louisiana | $47,100 | $22.64 | -21.9% | 970 |
| Maine | $57,050 | $27.43 | -5.4% | 1,860 |
| Maryland | $73,580 | $35.37 | +22.1% | 2,250 |
| Massachusetts | $62,500 | $30.05 | +3.7% | 7,440 |
| Michigan | $60,830 | $29.25 | +0.9% | 4,620 |
| Minnesota | $75,020 | $36.07 | +24.5% | 3,590 |
| Mississippi | $48,970 | $23.55 | -18.8% | 920 |
| Missouri | $49,560 | $23.83 | -17.8% | 1,640 |
| Montana | $45,160 | $21.71 | -25.1% | 740 |
| Nebraska | $43,240 | $20.79 | -28.3% | 900 |
| Nevada | $62,900 | $30.24 | +4.3% | 1,100 |
| New Hampshire | $63,900 | $30.72 | +6.0% | 320 |
| New Jersey | $66,590 | $32.02 | +10.5% | 2,420 |
| New Mexico | $65,640 | $31.56 | +8.9% | 800 |
| New York | $79,380 | $38.16 | +31.7% | 14,820 |
| North Carolina | $58,210 | $27.98 | -3.4% | 3,690 |
| North Dakota | $60,980 | $29.32 | +1.2% | 240 |
| Ohio | $46,080 | $22.16 | -23.6% | 6,050 |
| Oklahoma | $43,120 | $20.73 | -28.5% | 1,780 |
| Oregon | $68,210 | $32.79 | +13.2% | 2,230 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,290 | $23.21 | -19.9% | 3,500 |
| Rhode Island | $60,990 | $29.32 | +1.2% | 800 |
| South Carolina | $39,930 | $19.20 | -33.8% | 720 |
| South Dakota | $48,920 | $23.52 | -18.8% | 230 |
| Tennessee | $46,500 | $22.36 | -22.9% | 2,220 |
| Texas | $46,630 | $22.42 | -22.6% | 8,220 |
| Utah | $50,770 | $24.41 | -15.8% | 1,240 |
| Vermont | $73,210 | $35.20 | +21.4% | 320 |
| Virginia | $64,240 | $30.89 | +6.6% | 3,670 |
| Washington | $70,460 | $33.88 | +16.9% | 3,490 |
| West Virginia | $50,070 | $24.07 | -16.9% | 420 |
| Wisconsin | $61,860 | $29.74 | +2.6% | 1,880 |
| Wyoming | $59,310 | $28.51 | -1.6% | 200 |
Data source: BLS OES state file · U.S. BLS OES, May 2024 (updated April 2025)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for mental health and substance abuse social workers?
The median annual wage for mental health and substance abuse social workers is $60,280 ($28.98 per hour), according to the BLS OES survey for May 2024.
Which state pays mental health and substance abuse social workers the most?
Wages vary by state. Use the state table above to compare median annual pay across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
How many mental health and substance abuse social workers are employed in the U.S.?
There are approximately 132,810 mental health and substance abuse social workers employed nationally, per BLS OES.
How much do mental health and substance abuse social workers make per hour?
The median hourly wage is $28.98. See the hourly salary page for the full percentile breakdown.