Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary in DC
In the 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS dataset, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in DC have a median annual salary of $73,310, with 510 recorded jobs in this area. Recorded earnings range from $57,940 at the 10th percentile to $115,500 at the 90th percentile.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · Data year: 2025 · Last updated: 2026-09-22
Salary overview
Median annual salary
$73,310
Data year: 2025
Hourly median
$35.25
Employment
510
Source
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS
Salary distribution
Local compared with national
DC
$73,310
Median annual · 2025
United States
$60,280
Median annual · 2025
The DC median is 21.6% above the national median in the available dataset (a difference of $13,030).
Top skills
- 1.Social PerceptivenessImportance 4.3
- 2.Active ListeningImportance 4.1
- 3.SpeakingImportance 4.1
- 4.Reading ComprehensionImportance 4.0
- 5.Critical ThinkingImportance 4.0
- 6.MonitoringImportance 4.0
- 7.CoordinationImportance 3.9
- 8.Service OrientationImportance 3.9
- 9.Complex Problem SolvingImportance 3.9
- 10.WritingImportance 3.8
- 11.Learning StrategiesImportance 3.8
- 12.PersuasionImportance 3.8
Career information
Education and experience
- Typical education
- Master's Degree
- Experience
- Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
- Job zone
- 5
Technology used
- 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
- Microsoft PowerPoint
Common 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.
- Counsel or aid family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, or supporting the client or patient.
- Increase social work knowledge by reviewing current literature, conducting social research, or attending seminars, training workshops, or classes.
Related careers
Occupations recorded as related in the dataset. A relationship does not imply a guaranteed transition.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary in other locations
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary in Vallejo, CAMedian $122,930
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary in Cheyenne, WYMedian $118,900
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary in San Jose, CAMedian $109,050
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary in San Luis Obispo, CAMedian $98,800
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary in Salinas, CAMedian $97,200
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary in Fayetteville, ARMedian $96,420
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary in Hanford, CAMedian $91,730
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary in San Francisco, CAMedian $87,550
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary in Riverside, CAMedian $87,370
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary in Boulder, COMedian $84,450
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary in Norwich, CTMedian $84,260
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary in Santa Rosa, CAMedian $84,190
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