Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Career, Salary and Skills
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $60,280 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 132,810. Wage data is published for 347 locations.
Occupation description
Assess and treat individuals with mental, emotional, or substance abuse problems, including abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and/or other drugs. Activities may include individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, case management, client advocacy, prevention, and education.
O*NET code
21-1023.00
Job zone
5
Typical education
Master's Degree
Experience
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$60,280
Hourly median
$28.98
Employment
132,810
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.25 | 5.12 |
| Speaking | 4.12 | 4.00 |
| Active Listening | 4.12 | 4.00 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Monitoring | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Coordination | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Service Orientation | 3.88 | 4.12 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.75 | 3.88 |
Typical tasks
- Counsel clients in individual or group sessions to assist them in dealing with substance abuse, mental or physical illness, poverty, unemployment, or physical abuse.
- Collaborate with counselors, physicians, or nurses to plan or coordinate treatment, drawing on social work experience and patient needs.
- Monitor, evaluate, and record client progress with respect to treatment goals.
- Interview clients, review records, conduct assessments, or confer with other professionals to evaluate the mental or physical condition of clients or patients.
- Supervise or direct other workers who provide services to clients or patients.
- Modify treatment plans according to changes in client status.
- Assist clients in adhering to treatment plans, such as setting up appointments, arranging for transportation to appointments, or providing support.
- Educate clients or community members about mental or physical illness, abuse, medication, or available community resources.
Technology
- Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe PageMaker
- Client records software
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- Database software
- Email software
- Information presentation software
- James Frazier Associates DataStart
- Medical condition coding software
- Medical procedure coding software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary in CAMedian $79,000 · Employment 19,860
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary in NYMedian $79,380 · Employment 14,820
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary in New York, NYMedian $82,450 · Employment 12,090
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $78,410 · Employment 9,380
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary in TXMedian $46,630 · Employment 8,220
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary in MAMedian $62,500 · Employment 7,440
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary in OHMedian $46,080 · Employment 6,050
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary in FLMedian $51,590 · Employment 5,150
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary in Boston, MAMedian $63,830 · Employment 4,660
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary in MIMedian $60,830 · Employment 4,620
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary in NCMedian $58,210 · Employment 3,690
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary in AZMedian $46,380 · Employment 3,690
Related careers
- Family Medicine PhysiciansNational median $244,180
- Clinical Nurse SpecialistsNational median $97,550
- Occupational TherapistsNational median $100,330
- Occupational Therapy AssistantsNational median $72,300
- Occupational Therapy AidesNational median $39,160
- Recreational TherapistsNational median $61,960
- Community Health WorkersNational median $51,850
- Social and Human Service AssistantsNational median $45,930
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.