Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary in Illinois
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Illinois earn a median annual wage of $49,960 —17.1% below the national median of $60,280. That ranks IL #34 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.
Wage distribution
How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.
Employment is only 0.66× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in Illinois.
Highest-paying states for mental health and substance abuse social workers
All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. Illinois is highlighted.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $79,380 | $38.16 | 14,820 | 1.79 |
| 2 | California | $79,000 | $37.98 | 19,860 | 1.28 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $78,640 | $37.81 | 1,540 | 1.06 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $75,020 | $36.07 | 3,590 | 1.42 |
| 5 | Maryland | $73,580 | $35.37 | 2,250 | 0.95 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $73,310 | $35.25 | 510 | 0.85 |
| 7 | Vermont | $73,210 | $35.20 | 320 | 1.24 |
| 8 | Washington | $70,460 | $33.88 | 3,490 | 1.15 |
| 9 | Oregon | $68,210 | $32.79 | 2,230 | 1.33 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $66,590 | $32.02 | 2,420 | 0.66 |
Related occupations in Illinois
Occupations in the same job family, compared within Illinois.
| Occupation | Illinois median | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | $60,730 | $59,350 |
| Social and Human Service Assistants | $46,950 | $45,930 |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $63,220 | $59,550 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $62,420 | $64,330 |
| Healthcare Social Workers | $64,270 | $67,880 |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | $40,900 | $56,730 |
Frequently asked questions
How much do mental health and substance abuse social workers make in Illinois?
The median annual wage for mental health and substance abuse social workers in Illinois is $49,960, or $24.02 per hour. That is 17.1% below the national median of $60,280.
What is the entry-level mental health and substance abuse social workers salary in Illinois?
Workers at the 10th percentile earn $39,910 per year ($19.19/hour). The 25th percentile is $46,290.
How many people work as mental health and substance abuse social workers in Illinois?
About 3,460 people work in this occupation in Illinois, or 0.6 per 1,000 jobs statewide.
Is Illinois a good state for mental health and substance abuse social workers?
Illinois ranks #34 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.66x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in Illinois.
Which state pays mental health and substance abuse social workers the most?
New York has the highest median wage at $79,380 per year, followed by California ($79,000) and Connecticut ($78,640).