Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
Click a state. States: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Mental health and substance abuse social workers (SOC 21-1023) employed 132,810 people in May 2025. The median pay is $60,280 a year ($28.98 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $39,740 and the highest-paid 10% more than $104,170. BLS projects its employment to change by +10.3% between 2025 and 2035 (about 12,500 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: Master's degree.
Highest median pay: New York ($79,380), California ($79,000), Connecticut ($78,640). Most jobs: California (19,860), New York (14,820), Texas (8,220).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,740 | $19.11 |
| 25th percentile | $47,070 | $22.63 |
| Median | $60,280 | $28.98 |
| Mean | $68,030 | $32.71 |
| 75th percentile | $79,730 | $38.33 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $104,170 | $50.08 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 138,900 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 153,200 |
| Change in jobs | 14,300 |
| Percent change | +10.3% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 12,500 |
| Self-employed share | 2.4% |
| Typical entry education | Master's degree |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Internship/residency |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 740 | 0.41 | $41,500 | $29,370 | $64,750 | -31% | 31% |
| Alaska | 250 | 0.88 | $56,710 | $46,250 | $85,670 | -6% | 31% |
| Arizona | 3,690 | 1.33 | $46,380 | $40,810 | $64,350 | -23% | 43% |
| Arkansas | 1,040 | 0.93 | $58,590 | $39,440 | $99,070 | -3% | 20% |
| California | 19,860 | 1.28 | $79,000 | $46,450 | $147,300 | +31% | 32% |
| Colorado | 1,640 | 0.67 | $65,620 | $47,100 | $95,950 | +9% | 33% |
| Connecticut | 1,540 | 1.06 | $78,640 | $49,260 | $108,530 | +30% | 24% |
| Delaware | 510 | 1.22 | $60,060 | $47,550 | $81,210 | -0% | 31% |
| District of Columbia | 510 | 0.85 | $73,310 | $57,940 | $115,500 | +22% | 32% |
| Florida | 5,150 | 0.61 | $51,590 | $38,180 | $77,610 | -14% | 42% |
| Georgia | 1,330 | 0.32 | $52,030 | $32,990 | $83,500 | -14% | 35% |
| Idaho | 510 | 0.69 | $52,520 | $40,940 | $92,770 | -13% | 32% |
| Illinois | 3,460 | 0.66 | $49,960 | $39,910 | $79,050 | -17% | 32% |
| Indiana | 2,490 | 0.91 | $48,300 | $36,290 | $77,780 | -20% | 27% |
| Iowa | 1,200 | 0.90 | $48,530 | $37,980 | $80,760 | -19% | 24% |
| Kansas | 1,620 | 1.32 | $56,330 | $47,750 | $79,650 | -7% | 23% |
| Kentucky | 1,360 | 0.80 | $42,570 | $33,880 | $63,960 | -29% | 28% |
| Louisiana | 970 | 0.59 | $47,100 | $31,890 | $72,440 | -22% | 27% |
| Maine | 1,860 | 3.40 | $57,050 | $45,870 | $96,370 | -5% | 25% |
| Maryland | 2,250 | 0.95 | $73,580 | $38,100 | $104,000 | +22% | 28% |
| Massachusetts | 7,440 | 2.40 | $62,500 | $48,260 | $100,670 | +4% | 35% |
| Michigan | 4,620 | 1.23 | $60,830 | $42,150 | $82,750 | +1% | 23% |
| Minnesota | 3,590 | 1.42 | $75,020 | $50,950 | $98,520 | +24% | 21% |
| Mississippi | 920 | 0.93 | $48,970 | $25,880 | $78,920 | -19% | 24% |
| Missouri | 1,640 | 0.66 | $49,560 | $38,610 | $72,800 | -18% | 26% |
| Montana | 740 | 1.69 | $45,160 | $37,960 | $82,390 | -25% | 31% |
| Nebraska | 900 | 1.03 | $43,240 | $35,760 | $59,160 | -28% | 31% |
| Nevada | 1,100 | 0.83 | $62,900 | $37,930 | $98,010 | +4% | 33% |
| New Hampshire | 320 | 0.54 | $63,900 | $49,140 | $123,560 | +6% | 29% |
| New Jersey | 2,420 | 0.66 | $66,590 | $45,180 | $102,130 | +10% | 32% |
| New Mexico | 800 | 1.08 | $65,640 | $36,700 | $114,170 | +9% | 20% |
| New York | 14,820 | 1.79 | $79,380 | $54,650 | $122,340 | +32% | 25% |
| North Carolina | 3,690 | 0.87 | $58,210 | $38,970 | $79,720 | -3% | 28% |
| North Dakota | 240 | 0.65 | $60,980 | $44,050 | $75,840 | +1% | 19% |
| Ohio | 6,050 | 1.28 | $46,080 | $34,700 | $75,610 | -24% | 28% |
| Oklahoma | 1,780 | 1.22 | $43,120 | $35,780 | $52,930 | -28% | 29% |
| Oregon | 2,230 | 1.33 | $68,210 | $50,280 | $100,680 | +13% | 28% |
| Pennsylvania | 3,500 | 0.68 | $48,290 | $37,790 | $73,940 | -20% | 31% |
| Rhode Island | 800 | 1.88 | $60,990 | $42,900 | $135,200 | +1% | 28% |
| South Carolina | 720 | 0.37 | $39,930 | $30,250 | $63,970 | -34% | 38% |
| South Dakota | 230 | 0.60 | $48,920 | $39,230 | $73,610 | -19% | 25% |
| Tennessee | 2,220 | 0.79 | $46,500 | $38,320 | $68,430 | -23% | 33% |
| Texas | 8,220 | 0.68 | $46,630 | $36,870 | $79,210 | -23% | 38% |
| Utah | 1,240 | 0.84 | $50,770 | $37,980 | $101,350 | -16% | 38% |
| Vermont | 320 | 1.24 | $73,210 | $61,510 | $100,140 | +21% | 22% |
| Virginia | 3,670 | 1.04 | $64,240 | $48,530 | $102,480 | +7% | 31% |
| Washington | 3,490 | 1.15 | $70,460 | $46,790 | $102,680 | +17% | 31% |
| West Virginia | 420 | 0.70 | $50,070 | $38,410 | $70,190 | -17% | 21% |
| Wisconsin | 1,880 | 0.75 | $61,860 | $45,430 | $87,690 | +3% | 22% |
| Wyoming | 200 | 0.82 | $59,310 | $39,650 | $118,900 | -2% | 20% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 1,010 | $109,050 | $63,230 | $203,830 | 1.05 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,990 | $87,550 | $58,990 | $208,000 | 0.98 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 1,310 | $87,370 | $49,130 | $142,280 | 0.89 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 1,330 | $83,150 | $49,680 | $140,440 | 1.44 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 12,090 | $82,450 | $52,800 | $125,870 | 1.49 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 460 | $81,990 | $47,770 | $111,440 | 0.90 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 360 | $79,940 | $53,800 | $103,330 | 1.04 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | 410 | $79,870 | $51,490 | $115,070 | 1.77 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 9,380 | $78,410 | $43,840 | $139,550 | 1.75 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,840 | $78,350 | $49,280 | $105,880 | 1.03 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 2,180 | $78,210 | $56,810 | $119,720 | 0.81 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 530 | $76,970 | $51,920 | $100,840 | 1.38 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 1,030 | $75,570 | $50,010 | $130,620 | 0.78 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 2,500 | $75,020 | $51,980 | $98,520 | 1.50 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 1,170 | $73,740 | $49,990 | $99,030 | 1.14 |
| Syracuse, NY | 310 | $71,170 | $48,340 | $93,330 | 1.19 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 430 | $71,140 | $42,070 | $103,480 | 1.97 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 900 | $70,920 | $49,320 | $95,590 | 0.66 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 1,100 | $70,360 | $36,040 | $104,000 | 0.95 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 630 | $70,230 | $48,980 | $92,870 | 1.39 |
| Rochester, NY | 730 | $68,880 | $40,030 | $89,970 | 1.72 |
| Salem, OR | 360 | $68,210 | $54,280 | $105,160 | 2.26 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 340 | $64,990 | $47,580 | $136,730 | 1.24 |
| Fresno, CA | 620 | $64,910 | $45,450 | $139,030 | 1.53 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 420 | $64,080 | $34,650 | $102,720 | 2.25 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 4,660 | $63,830 | $49,280 | $102,830 | 2.02 |
| Richmond, VA | 740 | $63,020 | $50,020 | $80,310 | 1.31 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 890 | $62,900 | $37,930 | $98,010 | 0.92 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 600 | $62,770 | $46,540 | $96,860 | 0.86 |
| Albuquerque, NM | 410 | $61,280 | $37,180 | $114,160 | 1.20 |
| Worcester, MA | 960 | $60,480 | $46,860 | $91,910 | 3.21 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 340 | $60,390 | $45,450 | $97,030 | 1.15 |
| Springfield, MA | 510 | $60,250 | $46,980 | $98,550 | 2.98 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 1,400 | $59,930 | $45,740 | $110,210 | 2.29 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 1,780 | $59,520 | $41,310 | $82,100 | 1.09 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 410 | $59,380 | $42,850 | $95,010 | 0.64 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 810 | $59,010 | $46,580 | $102,960 | 3.28 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | 410 | $58,970 | $41,340 | $83,680 | 0.81 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 820 | $58,500 | $33,000 | $85,690 | 0.33 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 960 | $58,320 | $43,180 | $81,530 | 1.03 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 840 | $58,090 | $37,060 | $76,380 | 0.72 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 2,450 | $57,720 | $46,040 | $83,260 | 0.64 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 2,140 | $54,510 | $40,350 | $81,210 | 0.86 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 360 | $54,420 | $38,820 | $74,380 | 0.55 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 930 | $52,730 | $36,500 | $78,210 | 0.76 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 1,370 | $51,510 | $39,340 | $78,510 | 0.57 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | 450 | $51,320 | $41,540 | $91,990 | 1.48 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 570 | $49,940 | $38,430 | $72,380 | 0.47 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 810 | $49,590 | $38,470 | $79,990 | 0.86 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 820 | $49,520 | $37,270 | $72,800 | 0.72 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,160 | $48,880 | $35,980 | $85,420 | 0.41 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 800 | $48,630 | $42,140 | $71,260 | 0.85 |
| Tucson, AZ | 510 | $48,370 | $38,730 | $59,820 | 1.53 |
| Columbus, OH | 1,050 | $47,820 | $36,870 | $108,870 | 1.11 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 860 | $47,740 | $37,730 | $77,630 | 0.78 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 2,720 | $47,390 | $37,440 | $72,500 | 0.78 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 580 | $47,100 | $38,710 | $60,800 | 0.61 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 380 | $46,810 | $40,550 | $73,490 | 0.72 |
| Akron, OH | 330 | $46,760 | $37,030 | $75,630 | 1.22 |
| Toledo, OH | 350 | $46,600 | $36,900 | $73,180 | 1.41 |
The median is $60,280 a year ($28.98 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $39,740 and the highest-paid tenth over $104,170 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
132,810 in May 2025, and BLS projects +10.3% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: Master's degree (BLS).
New York, with a median of $79,380 (among states with published figures).