Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
SOC 21-1023 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers is $55,960, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $63,870, and an estimated 114,680 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +14.9% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -2.4% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will grow 9.7% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $55,960 | $55,960 | 114,680 |
| 2022 | $51,240 | $53,349 | 107,940 |
| 2021 | $49,130 | $55,246 | 113,810 |
| 2020 | $48,720 | $57,359 | 116,780 |
Nominal change
+14.9%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-2.4%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
+9.7%
Much faster than average
Employment 2024
136,800
Projected 2034
150,100
Annual Openings
13,500
Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $55,960. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $87,180 | +55.8% | 50 |
| District of Columbia | $84,560 | +51.1% | 420 |
| Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $80,120 | +43.2% | 40 |
| Connecticut | $78,720 | +40.7% | 1,280 |
| Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $78,400 | +40.1% | 120 |
| New York | $75,960 | +35.7% | 12,180 |
| Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $72,800 | +30.1% | 120 |
| New Hampshire | $71,760 | +28.2% | 430 |
| California | $71,450 | +27.7% | 17,520 |
| New Jersey | $69,980 | +25.1% | 2,180 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$37,150
25th Pct
$43,750
Median
$55,960
75th Pct
$74,810
90th Pct
$100,090
H-1B Employer Filings
Employer-certified wages from DOL H-1B LCA filings — competitive market benchmark, not approved visas.
| Employer | State | Filings | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| GANDARA Mental HEALTH CENTER Inc | MA | 7 | $52,000 |
| C.C.M.S. | NY | 3 | $93,464 |
| W.A. Foote Memorial Hospital, Inc. | MI | 3 | $59,654 |
| OMNI Health Services, Inc. | PA | 3 | $40,000 |
| Gilead Community Services, Inc. | CT | 1 | $41,974 |
| PCH TREATMENT INC. | CA | 1 | $105,000 |
| Oh My Mind LCSW PLLC | NY | 1 | $99,840 |
| HealthRIGHT 360 | CA | 1 | $67,500 |
| Center for Family Life in Sunset Park Inc. | NY | 1 | $69,369 |
| Open Arms Housing, Inc. | DC | 1 | $80,204 |
| Los Gatos Therapy Center | CA | 1 | $95,000 |
| North East Medical Services | CA | 1 | $97,552 |
| Multi-lingual Counseling Center Inc. | CA | 1 | $100,000 |
| Phronetic Psychotherapy LCSW PC | NY | 1 | $114,400 |
| IHA Health Services Corporation | MI | 1 | $70,400 |
| Huilin Lai, LCSW, P.C. | NY | 1 | $124,800 |
| Psychotherapy & Spirituality Institute, Inc. | NY | 1 | $249,600 |
Source: DOL Office of Foreign Labor Certification, H-1B LCA data.
Related Occupations in Community & Social Service
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.