Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers pay in New York
In New York, the median pay for mental health and substance abuse social workers is $38.16 an hour ($79,380 a year). About 14,820 people work in this job there.
That is 32% higher than the U.S. median ($60,280). New York ranks 1st of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for mental health and substance abuse social workers in New York
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $26.27 | $54,650 |
| 25% of workers | $30.98 | $64,430 |
| Half of workers (median) | $38.16 | $79,380 |
| 75% of workers | $45.92 | $95,520 |
| 90% of workers | $58.82 | $122,340 |
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers pay in New York metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $82,450 | 12,090 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh | $79,870 | 410 |
| Elmira | $79,410 | 50 |
| Ithaca | $78,220 | 70 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy | $76,970 | 530 |
| Utica-Rome | $73,200 | 190 |
| Kingston | $71,790 | 120 |
| Glens Falls | $71,710 | 110 |
| Syracuse | $71,170 | 310 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga | $70,230 | 630 |
| Binghamton | $68,940 | 160 |
| Rochester | $68,880 | 730 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum | $64,660 | 70 |
New York unemployment rate: 4.3% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for mental health and substance abuse social workers
- Typical education to start: Master's degree (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 2 to 4 years (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Internship/residency (BLS)
- Job outlook: +10.3% over ten years, much faster than average · about 12,500 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in New York
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.