Jobs Similar to Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
Also called: Mental Health Social Workers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to mental health and substance abuse social workers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Healthcare Social Workers, Clinical and Counseling Psychologists and Child, Family, and School Social Workers.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers: $60,280 median pay · usual preparation: Graduate degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Healthcare Social WorkersSame group | 87% | $67,880+13% | Graduate degree |
| 2 | Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | 86% | $100,580+67% | Graduate degree |
| 3 | Child, Family, and School Social WorkersSame group | 85% | $59,550−1% | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Marriage and Family TherapistsSame group | 85% | $66,940+11% | Graduate degree |
| 5 | Rehabilitation CounselorsSame group | 85% | $46,850−22% | Graduate degree |
| 6 | School Psychologists | 85% | $95,990+59% | Graduate degree |
| 7 | Patient Representatives | 83% | $50,290Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 8 | Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsSame group | 83% | $64,330+7% | Graduate degree |
| 9 | Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | 83% | $74,260+23% | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary | 83% | $77,570+29% | Graduate degree |
| 11 | Community Health WorkersSame group | 83% | $51,850−14% | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Social and Human Service AssistantsSame group | 82% | $45,930−24% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses | 82% | $97,550Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 14 | Recreational Therapists | 82% | $61,960+3% | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Health Education SpecialistsSame group | 81% | $64,070+6% | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | 81% | $80,340+33% | Graduate degree |
| 17 | Psychiatric Technicians | 81% | $45,130−25% | Training or associate |
| 18 | Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary | 81% | $80,250+33% | Graduate degree |
| 19 | Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment SpecialistsSame group | 80% | $66,270+10% | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Psychiatrists | 80% | $281,870+368% | Graduate degree |
- 1Healthcare Social Workers
87% similar · $67,880 (+13%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 2Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
86% similar · $100,580 (+67%) · Graduate degree
- 3Child, Family, and School Social Workers
85% similar · $59,550 (−1%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 4Marriage and Family Therapists
85% similar · $66,940 (+11%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 5Rehabilitation Counselors
85% similar · $46,850 (−22%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 6School Psychologists
85% similar · $95,990 (+59%) · Graduate degree
- 7Patient Representatives
83% similar · $50,290 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 8Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
83% similar · $64,330 (+7%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 9Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
83% similar · $74,260 (+23%) · Bachelor's degree
- 10Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary
83% similar · $77,570 (+29%) · Graduate degree
- 11Community Health Workers
83% similar · $51,850 (−14%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 12Social and Human Service Assistants
82% similar · $45,930 (−24%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 13Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses
82% similar · $97,550 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 14Recreational Therapists
82% similar · $61,960 (+3%) · Bachelor's degree
- 15Health Education Specialists
81% similar · $64,070 (+6%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 16Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary
81% similar · $80,340 (+33%) · Graduate degree
- 17Psychiatric Technicians
81% similar · $45,130 (−25%) · Training or associate
- 18Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary
81% similar · $80,250 (+33%) · Graduate degree
- 19Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
80% similar · $66,270 (+10%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 20Psychiatrists
80% similar · $281,870 (+368%) · Graduate degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than mental health and substance abuse social workers.
- Psychiatrists80% similar · $281,870 (+368%)
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists86% similar · $100,580 (+67%)
- School Psychologists85% similar · $95,990 (+59%)
- Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary81% similar · $80,340 (+33%)
- Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary81% similar · $80,250 (+33%)
- Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary83% similar · $77,570 (+29%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers85% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Patient Representatives83% similar · Training or associate
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School83% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Community Health Workers83% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Social and Human Service Assistants82% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Recreational Therapists82% similar · Bachelor's degree
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for mental health and substance abuse social workers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs for former mental health and substance abuse social workers →
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where mental health and substance abuse social workers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Art Therapists (84)
- Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses (82)
- Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists (82)
- Neuropsychologists (82)
- Clergy (81)
- Recreational Therapists (81)
- Clinical Nurse Specialists (80)
- Clinical Neuropsychologists (79)
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (78)
- Hospitalists (78)
Questions about jobs like mental health and substance abuse social workers
What jobs are most similar to mental health and substance abuse social workers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Healthcare Social Workers (87% similar), Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (86% similar), Child, Family, and School Social Workers (85% similar), Marriage and Family Therapists (85% similar) and Rehabilitation Counselors (85% similar).
Which jobs like mental health and substance abuse social workers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Psychiatrists ($281,870, +368%; usually a graduate degree), Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($100,580, +67%; usually a graduate degree) and School Psychologists ($95,990, +59%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with mental health and substance abuse social workers ($60,280). Without more preparation than mental health and substance abuse social workers usually need: Psychiatrists, Clinical and Counseling Psychologists and School Psychologists.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.