Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers: Career Overview
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.
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What Do Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of mental health and substance abuse social workers span:
- 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.
What Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Need to Know
Effective mental health and substance abuse social workers draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Other Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Addictions Counselor
- Alcoholism Worker
- Assessment Specialist
- BHC (Behavioral Health Consultant)
- Behavior Specialist
- Behavioral Case Manager
- Behavioral Clinician
- Behavioral Health Care Manager (BHCM)
Job Outlook
There are about 239,687 mental health and substance abuse social workers working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +5.8% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $58,560 |
| Hourly median | $28.15 |
| 10th percentile | $38,843 |
| 25th percentile | $48,702 |
| 75th percentile | $68,419 |
| 90th percentile | $78,278 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $80,230 |
| Connecticut | $78,820 |
| Minnesota | $77,100 |
| California | $75,320 |
| District of Columbia | $72,720 |
| Oregon | $71,830 |
| New Jersey | $70,420 |
| Hawaii | $70,340 |
| Vermont | $69,540 |
| Washington | $69,060 |
| Maine | $67,820 |
| New Mexico | $65,600 |
| Colorado | $65,080 |
| Massachusetts | $64,960 |
| New Hampshire | $63,810 |
| Virginia | $63,530 |
| North Dakota | $61,660 |
| Maryland | $61,100 |
| Rhode Island | $60,490 |
| Michigan | $60,000 |
| Illinois | $58,090 |
| Alaska | $57,650 |
| Delaware | $57,620 |
| Wisconsin | $57,590 |
| North Carolina | $56,730 |
| Kansas | $56,110 |
| Indiana | $54,410 |
| Idaho | $50,900 |
| Florida | $50,860 |
| Georgia | $50,810 |
| Iowa | $50,340 |
| Nevada | $49,850 |
| Arkansas | $49,820 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,590 |
| South Dakota | $49,560 |
| Mississippi | $48,830 |
| Tennessee | $48,760 |
| West Virginia | $47,840 |
| Arizona | $46,650 |
| Ohio | $46,330 |
| Missouri | $46,250 |
| Kentucky | $45,450 |
| Nebraska | $45,120 |
| Texas | $44,790 |
| Louisiana | $44,050 |
| Montana | $43,880 |
| Oklahoma | $43,190 |
| Wyoming | $42,220 |
| Alabama | $42,100 |
| South Carolina | $41,750 |
| Puerto Rico | $26,350 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Pay for mental health and substance abuse social workers vary by region. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $72,719 | 20.2% | 1.21 |
| Middle Atlantic | $71,675 | 19.4% | 1.43 |
| New England | $66,856 | 8.5% | 1.97 |
| Plains States | $59,225 | 7.8% | 1.17 |
| Great Lakes | $53,605 | 14.0% | 1.22 |
| Southeast | $51,940 | 16.8% | 0.73 |
| Southwest | $46,289 | 9.1% | 0.87 |
| Rocky Mountains | $37,814 | 3.8% | 1.03 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | CA | $116,630 | 120 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $102,760 | 900 |
| Vallejo, CA | CA | $98,680 | 100 |
| Las Cruces, NM | NM | $97,490 | 80 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | CA | $93,390 | 150 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | CA | $89,500 | 70 |
| Elmira, NY | NY | $87,530 | 70 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | CT | $84,150 | 160 |
Which Industries Hire Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
Most mental health and substance abuse social workers work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 99,310 | $59,330 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2,540 | $43,410 |
| Educational Services | 1,990 | $68,500 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1,350 | $50,560 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 1,330 | $76,330 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1,000 | $58,130 |
| Finance and Insurance | 60 | $91,580 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Document management software: Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Document management software: Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of mental health and substance abuse social workers tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Telephone Conversations
- Contact With Others
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How to Become Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
Entry-level mental health and substance abuse social workers positions require a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (Primary-Long)
- Clinical Neuropsychologists (Primary-Long)
- Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors (Primary-Short)
- Marriage and Family Therapists (Primary-Short)
- Mental Health Counselors (Primary-Short)
- Rehabilitation Counselors (Primary-Short)
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers (Primary-Long)
- Healthcare Social Workers (Primary-Short)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Students preparing for mental health and substance abuse social workers often complete programs in:
Public Administration and Social Service Professions
2 programs across 1 majors
Health Professions and Related Programs
1 programs across 1 majors
References
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 21-1023.00 (Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers).
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