Salaries › Mental Health & Substance Abuse Social Worker
Mental Health & Substance Abuse Social Worker Salary by State (2026)
How much does a Mental Health & Substance Abuse Social Worker make? The median Mental Health & Substance Abuse Social Worker salary in the US is about $62,142 per year (roughly $30.00 an hour), across 132,190 jobs (Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers). But pay swings widely by state — the median ranges from $39,930 in South Carolina to $79,380 in New York. Pick your state below for the full pay range and an estimated take-home after taxes.
Median Mental Health & Substance Abuse Social Worker salary in every state
| State | Median salary | Jobs |
| New York | $79,380 | 14,820 |
| California | $79,000 | 19,860 |
| Connecticut | $78,640 | 1,540 |
| Minnesota | $75,020 | 3,590 |
| Maryland | $73,580 | 2,250 |
| District of Columbia | $73,310 | 510 |
| Vermont | $73,210 | 320 |
| Washington | $70,460 | 3,490 |
| Oregon | $68,210 | 2,230 |
| New Jersey | $66,590 | 2,420 |
| New Mexico | $65,640 | 800 |
| Colorado | $65,620 | 1,640 |
| Virginia | $64,240 | 3,670 |
| New Hampshire | $63,900 | 320 |
| Nevada | $62,900 | 1,100 |
| Massachusetts | $62,500 | 7,440 |
| Wisconsin | $61,860 | 1,880 |
| Rhode Island | $60,990 | 800 |
| North Dakota | $60,980 | 240 |
| Michigan | $60,830 | 4,620 |
| Delaware | $60,060 | 510 |
| Wyoming | $59,310 | 200 |
| Arkansas | $58,590 | 1,040 |
| North Carolina | $58,210 | 3,690 |
| Maine | $57,050 | 1,860 |
| Alaska | $56,710 | 250 |
| Kansas | $56,330 | 1,620 |
| Hawaii | $54,390 | 0 |
| Idaho | $52,520 | 510 |
| Georgia | $52,030 | 1,330 |
| Florida | $51,590 | 5,150 |
| Utah | $50,770 | 1,240 |
| West Virginia | $50,070 | 420 |
| Illinois | $49,960 | 3,460 |
| Missouri | $49,560 | 1,640 |
| Mississippi | $48,970 | 920 |
| South Dakota | $48,920 | 230 |
| Iowa | $48,530 | 1,200 |
| Indiana | $48,300 | 2,490 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,290 | 3,500 |
| Louisiana | $47,100 | 970 |
| Texas | $46,630 | 8,220 |
| Tennessee | $46,500 | 2,220 |
| Arizona | $46,380 | 3,690 |
| Ohio | $46,080 | 6,050 |
| Montana | $45,160 | 740 |
| Nebraska | $43,240 | 900 |
| Oklahoma | $43,120 | 1,780 |
| Kentucky | $42,570 | 1,360 |
| Alabama | $41,500 | 740 |
| South Carolina | $39,930 | 720 |
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Mental Health & Substance Abuse Social Worker make?
- A Mental Health & Substance Abuse Social Worker makes a median of about $62,142 per year in the US (roughly $30.00 per hour), according to the latest BLS data. Pay ranges from $39,930 in South Carolina to $79,380 in New York depending on the state.
- What is the average Mental Health & Substance Abuse Social Worker salary in the US?
- The typical (employment-weighted median) Mental Health & Substance Abuse Social Worker salary in the US is about $62,142 per year, based on the latest BLS data covering 132,190 jobs nationwide.
- Which state pays Mental Health & Substance Abuse Social Workers the most?
- New York has the highest median Mental Health & Substance Abuse Social Worker salary at $79,380 per year. Remember that taxes and cost of living vary — a high gross salary can shrink after state taxes.
- Which state pays Mental Health & Substance Abuse Social Workers the least?
- South Carolina has the lowest median at $39,930 per year. Lower-paying states often also have lower living costs and, in some cases, no state income tax.
Sources and methodology
All figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) (Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers, code 21-1023). “Typical pay” is the employment-weighted average of state medians. Take-home estimates on state pages use 2026 federal and verified state tax rules from our PaycheckTally engine.