Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary in the United States
As of May 2025, the median annual wage for mental health and substance abuse social workers in the United States was $60,280 ($28.98 per hour), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES survey.
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 survey, May 2025
Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $44,080/yr
- First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers — $48,520/yr
- Construction Laborers — $47,120/yr
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $83,050/yr
- Project Management Specialists — $102,320/yr
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $72,040/yr
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 2025.
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.