Mental health and substance abuse social workers

Detailed Occupation

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2024 Workforce

36.4k

Average Age

45.1

Estimated Job Growth

9.72%

10-year projection

Average Salary

$67,039

Average Male Salary

$69,564

Average Female Salary

$66,454

About

Mental health and substance abuse social workers are most often employed by the Outpatient care centers industry. The average yearly wage for Mental health and substance abuse social workers was $67,039 in 2024.

The locations that employ the most Mental health and substance abuse social workers are Worcester County (South) PUMA, MA, Lower Connecticut River Valley PUMA, CT, and Multnomah County--Portland City (Central East) PUMA, OR. The locations with a relatively high concentration of Mental health and substance abuse social workers are Detroit City (Northeast) PUMA, MI, Ramsey County (Central & Far Southeast)--Maplewood, Roseville & North St. Paul Cities PUMA, MN, and Forsyth County (Outside Winston-Salem City)--Kernersville Town & Clemmons Village PUMA, NC.

Management, business, science, & arts occupations Community & Social Service Occupations Education, legal, community service, arts, & media occupations

Employment

Employment and salary information for the Mental health and substance abuse social workers workforce. Mental health and substance abuse social workers workforce in 2024 was 36,390 people, of which 81.2% were women and 18.8% were men. Mental health and substance abuse social workers are paid most in Palm Beach County (West of Boca Raton City) PUMA, FL but are relatively concentrated in Detroit City (Northeast) PUMA, MI.

Employment Over Time

Metric

Grouping

6,841

Male Workforce

± 2.03k

29,549

Female Workforce

± 4.22k

The Mental health and substance abuse social workers workforce in 2024 was 36,390 people (81.2% women and 18.8% men). This implies an average annual growth of 10.2% between 2018 (33,011) and 2024 (36,390).

Employment by Location

Level

Metric

This map shows the states in the United States shaded by average wage for Mental health and substance abuse social workers.

During 2024, the states that concentrated the best average annual wage were Nevada ($135,960), South Carolina ($126,514), and District of Columbia ($97,852).

Yearly Wage Ranking

$67,039

AVERAGE WAGE

#251 in the ranking (2018)

$69,878

NATIONAL AVERAGE WAGE

For all occupations across the US

In 2024, Mental health and substance abuse social workers earned an average of $67,039, $2,839 less than the average national salary of $69,878

The graph shows the ranking of Mental health and substance abuse social workers in relation to all Detailed Occupation in 2018.

Wage Distribution

Gender

0.324

WAGE GINI

In 2024, Mental health and substance abuse social workers had a wage GINI coefficient of 0.324, which is lower than the national average of 0.474. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly for Mental health and substance abuse social workers (shown in red) than for the overall labor force (shown in gray).

The graphic shows the distribution of average salaries by buckets for Mental health and substance abuse social workers compared to the entire workforce in the country.

Industry

Information on the industries that employ Mental health and substance abuse social workers and on wages for those in the field. Outpatient care centers is the industry that employs the most Mental health and substance abuse social workers, both by share and by number, though the highest paid industry for Mental health and substance abuse social workers, by average wage, is Executive offices & legislative bodies ($228,042).

Occupations by Industries

Metric

Value

36.4k

2024 Workforce

± 4,683

15.1%

1 YEAR GROWTH

± 16.4%

This graphic shows the share of Mental health and substance abuse social workers employed by various industries. Outpatient care centers employs the largest share of Mental health and substance abuse social workers at 49.3%, followed by Individual & family services with 23.9% and General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals with 18.6%.

Diversity

Demographic information on Mental health and substance abuse social workers in the US. The workforce of Mental health and substance abuse social workers in 2024 was 36,390 people, with 81.2% woman, and 18.8% men. The average age of male Mental health and substance abuse social workers in the workforce is 47.2 and of female Mental health and substance abuse social workers is 44.6, and the most common race/ethnicity for Mental health and substance abuse social workers is White.

Gender and Age

Metric

The workforce of Mental health and substance abuse social workers in 2024 was 36,390 people, with 81.2% woman, and 18.8% men.

The age ranges that concentrated the largest workforce were 30 to 34 years (5,185 people), 35 to 39 years (4,998 people), and 40 to 44 years (3,962 people). Among them they concentrated 39.3% of the total workforce.

Ethnicity

Gender

In 2024, 15% of Mental health and substance abuse social workers workers were Hispanic and 85% non-Hispanic.

The treemap shows the distribution of Hispanic workers according to their origin, highlighting Mexican (54.3%), Puerto Rican (13.9)%, and Cuban (7.84)%

You can review this information by gender using the selectors above.

Races

In 2024, 66.6% of the Mental health and substance abuse social workers workforce were White, of which 80.6% were women and 19.4% men. Other races that concentrated a significant number of workers were Black (14%) and Two or More Races (11.9%).

Education & Skills

Data on higher education choices for Mental health and substance abuse social workers from The Department of Education and Census Bureau. The most common major for Mental health and substance abuse social workers is Psychology but the most specialized major according to RCA in 2024 were Public Administration and Social Service.

Majors

ACS PUMS data only shows the major for bachelor's degrees. However, we can filter the data based on highest degree obtained.

Type of Majors

Degree

The most common majors achieved by Mental health and substance abuse social workers in 2024 (counting all academic degrees) were Psychology (8,759 people), Public Administration and Social Service (7,346 people), and Social Sciences (3,368 people).

You can review this information for different academic grades by modifying the option selected in the selector above.

Education Levels

Metric

The main educational levels achieved by the Mental health and substance abuse social workers workers were Graduate Degree (24,314 people), Bachelors Degree (6,814 people), and Some college (2,106 people).

The graphic shows the Mental health and substance abuse social workers workforce by gender and educational level.

Projections

Projections on job growth for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The 10-year national workforce is projected to grow 3.07%, but Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers are expected to see a growth of 9.72% over the same period. This occupation is expected to grow more than the national average.

Job Growth

9.72%

Estimated Job Growth

10-year Projection

3.07%

National Growth

10-year Projection

This line chart shows the projected 10-year growth in the number of jobs for Mental health and substance abuse social workers. This profession is expected to grow more than than 3.07%, the average rate of national job growth.