Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
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.
Common Job Titles
- Case Manager
- Mental Health Therapist
- Social Worker
- Therapist
Wage Data According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Annual wage data for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers (2024)
Estimated Total Employment (U.S.)
125,910
Wage Distribution by Percentile
Line chart of annual wages by percentile. U.S. is the solid line. 10th percentile: U.S. $39,620. 25th percentile: U.S. $46,550. 50th percentile: U.S. $60,060. 75th percentile: U.S. $78,980. 90th percentile: U.S. $104,130. Use the left and right arrow keys to move between percentiles.
- U.S.
| Metric | U.S. |
|---|---|
| 10% of workers earn the following or less | $39,620 |
| 10% of workers earn the following or more | $104,130 |
| Workers on average earn | $68,290 |
+ indicates wage is at or above the BLS reporting cap ($239,200/year)
Skills & Requirements
Key competencies for this occupation, ranked by importance
- Therapy and Counseling4.8/5
- Psychology4.7/5
- English Language3.9/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.8/5
- Education and Training3.7/5
Tools & Technology
Equipment and software commonly used in this occupation
In-Demand Technology
Frequently requested by employers in job postings
- Adobe Acrobat
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Microsoft Word
Technology Skills
- Adobe PageMaker
- Client records software
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- Database software
- Email software
- Information presentation software
- James Frazier Associates DataStart
- Medical condition coding software
Tools & Equipment
- Desktop computers
- Notebook computers
- Personal computers