Salaries › Mental Health & Substance Abuse Social Worker › Kentucky
Mental Health & Substance Abuse Social Worker Salary in Kentucky (2026)
$20.46 per hour · take-home ≈ $34,895/year ($2,908/month) for a single filer
Kentucky ranks 49th of 51 states for Mental Health & Substance Abuse Social Worker pay, with a median about 31% below the national average. Of the 1,360 Mental Health & Substance Abuse Social Worker jobs BLS counts in Kentucky, the typical worker earns $42,570 a year — though pay ranges from $33,880 for newcomers to $63,960 at the top.
Mental Health & Substance Abuse Social Worker pay range in Kentucky
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $33,880 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $37,230 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $42,570 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $48,780 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $63,960 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 1,360 Mental Health & Substance Abuse Social Worker jobs in Kentucky (occupation code 21-1023, “Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers”).
Gross vs. take-home in Kentucky
A median Mental Health & Substance Abuse Social Worker salary of $42,570 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Kentucky state income tax, a single filer keeps about $34,895 — an effective tax rate of 18.0%.
| Gross (median) | $42,570 |
| Federal income tax | −$2,928 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,257 |
| Kentucky state income tax | −$1,490 |
| Take-home (annual) | $34,895 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,908 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Kentucky paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Mental Health & Substance Abuse Social Worker make in Kentucky?
- The median Mental Health & Substance Abuse Social Worker salary in Kentucky is $42,570 per year ($20.46 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $37,230 and $48,780.
- What is the take-home pay for a Mental Health & Substance Abuse Social Worker in Kentucky?
- On the median salary of $42,570, a single filer in Kentucky takes home about $34,895 per year ($2,908 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 18.0%.
- How many Mental Health & Substance Abuse Social Worker jobs are there in Kentucky?
- BLS counts 1,360 Mental Health & Substance Abuse Social Worker jobs in Kentucky in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Mental Health & Substance Abuse Social Workers
Other salaries in Kentucky
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified Kentucky state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for Kentucky.