Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary by State
Also called: Mental Health Social Workers
The national median pay for mental health and substance abuse social workers is $60,280 a year. By state, it ranges from $39,930 in South Carolina to $79,380 in New York.
Updated October 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
U.S. pay range
- Lowest 10%
- $39,740
- 25th percentile
- $47,070
- Median
- $60,280
- 75th percentile
- $79,730
- Top 10%
- $104,170
Annual pay, all U.S. workers in this job. About 132,810 jobs.
Median pay in 50 states and DC
| # | State | Median | vs. U.S. | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $79,380 | +32% | $54,650 | $122,340 | 14,820 |
| 2 | California | $79,000 | +31% | $46,450 | $147,300 | 19,860 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $78,640 | +30% | $49,260 | $108,530 | 1,540 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $75,020 | +24% | $50,950 | $98,520 | 3,590 |
| 5 | Maryland | $73,580 | +22% | $38,100 | $104,000 | 2,250 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $73,310 | +22% | $57,940 | $115,500 | 510 |
| 7 | Vermont | $73,210 | +21% | $61,510 | $100,140 | 320 |
| 8 | Washington | $70,460 | +17% | $46,790 | $102,680 | 3,490 |
| 9 | Oregon | $68,210 | +13% | $50,280 | $100,680 | 2,230 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $66,590 | +10% | $45,180 | $102,130 | 2,420 |
| 11 | New Mexico | $65,640 | +9% | $36,700 | $114,170 | 800 |
| 12 | Colorado | $65,620 | +9% | $47,100 | $95,950 | 1,640 |
| 13 | Virginia | $64,240 | +7% | $48,530 | $102,480 | 3,670 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $63,900 | +6% | $49,140 | $123,560 | 320 |
| 15 | Nevada | $62,900 | +4% | $37,930 | $98,010 | 1,100 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $62,500 | +4% | $48,260 | $100,670 | 7,440 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $61,860 | +3% | $45,430 | $87,690 | 1,880 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $60,990 | +1% | $42,900 | $135,200 | 800 |
| 19 | North Dakota | $60,980 | +1% | $44,050 | $75,840 | 240 |
| 20 | Michigan | $60,830 | +1% | $42,150 | $82,750 | 4,620 |
| 21 | Delaware | $60,060 | 0% | $47,550 | $81,210 | 510 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $59,310 | −2% | $39,650 | $118,900 | 200 |
| 23 | Arkansas | $58,590 | −3% | $39,440 | $99,070 | 1,040 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $58,210 | −3% | $38,970 | $79,720 | 3,690 |
| 25 | Maine | $57,050 | −5% | $45,870 | $96,370 | 1,860 |
| 26 | Alaska | $56,710 | −6% | $46,250 | $85,670 | 250 |
| 27 | Kansas | $56,330 | −7% | $47,750 | $79,650 | 1,620 |
| 28 | Hawaii | $54,390 | −10% | $45,790 | $90,870 | Not published |
| 29 | Idaho | $52,520 | −13% | $40,940 | $92,770 | 510 |
| 30 | Georgia | $52,030 | −14% | $32,990 | $83,500 | 1,330 |
| 31 | Florida | $51,590 | −14% | $38,180 | $77,610 | 5,150 |
| 32 | Utah | $50,770 | −16% | $37,980 | $101,350 | 1,240 |
| 33 | West Virginia | $50,070 | −17% | $38,410 | $70,190 | 420 |
| 34 | Illinois | $49,960 | −17% | $39,910 | $79,050 | 3,460 |
| 35 | Missouri | $49,560 | −18% | $38,610 | $72,800 | 1,640 |
| 36 | Mississippi | $48,970 | −19% | $25,880 | $78,920 | 920 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $48,920 | −19% | $39,230 | $73,610 | 230 |
| 38 | Iowa | $48,530 | −19% | $37,980 | $80,760 | 1,200 |
| 39 | Indiana | $48,300 | −20% | $36,290 | $77,780 | 2,490 |
| 40 | Pennsylvania | $48,290 | −20% | $37,790 | $73,940 | 3,500 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $47,100 | −22% | $31,890 | $72,440 | 970 |
| 42 | Texas | $46,630 | −23% | $36,870 | $79,210 | 8,220 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $46,500 | −23% | $38,320 | $68,430 | 2,220 |
| 44 | Arizona | $46,380 | −23% | $40,810 | $64,350 | 3,690 |
| 45 | Ohio | $46,080 | −24% | $34,700 | $75,610 | 6,050 |
| 46 | Montana | $45,160 | −25% | $37,960 | $82,390 | 740 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $43,240 | −28% | $35,760 | $59,160 | 900 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $43,120 | −28% | $35,780 | $52,930 | 1,780 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $42,570 | −29% | $33,880 | $63,960 | 1,360 |
| 50 | Alabama | $41,500 | −31% | $29,370 | $64,750 | 740 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $39,930 | −34% | $30,250 | $63,970 | 720 |
BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates. States without published data are not listed. “Not published”: BLS withheld the value or it is above the highest amount BLS publishes. Pay is not adjusted for living costs.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary questions
Which state pays mental health and substance abuse social workers the most?
New York, with a median of $79,380 a year (+32% vs. the national median of $60,280). BLS May 2025.
Which state pays mental health and substance abuse social workers the least?
South Carolina, with a median of $39,930 a year (−34% vs. national).
Where do most mental health and substance abuse social workers work?
California has the most jobs, about 19,860, with a median of $79,000.
Does a higher salary mean more money left over?
Not always. These are pay figures only. Living costs, taxes and housing differ a lot between states, and this page does not adjust for them.