Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary in Pennsylvania
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Pennsylvania earn a median annual wage of $48,290 —19.9% below the national median of $60,280. That ranks PA #40 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 0.68× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in Pennsylvania.
Highest-paying states for mental health and substance abuse social workers
All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania
Occupations in the same job family, compared within Pennsylvania.
| Occupation | Pennsylvania median | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | $52,010 | $59,350 |
| Social and Human Service Assistants | $44,050 | $45,930 |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $50,820 | $59,550 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $60,880 | $64,330 |
| Healthcare Social Workers | $61,900 | $67,880 |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | $54,770 | $56,730 |
Frequently asked questions
How much do mental health and substance abuse social workers make in Pennsylvania?
The median annual wage for mental health and substance abuse social workers in Pennsylvania is $48,290, or $23.21 per hour. That is 19.9% below the national median of $60,280.
What is the entry-level mental health and substance abuse social workers salary in Pennsylvania?
Workers at the 10th percentile earn $37,790 per year ($18.17/hour). The 25th percentile is $43,810.
How many people work as mental health and substance abuse social workers in Pennsylvania?
About 3,500 people work in this occupation in Pennsylvania, or 0.6 per 1,000 jobs statewide.
Is Pennsylvania a good state for mental health and substance abuse social workers?
Pennsylvania ranks #40 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.68x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in Pennsylvania.
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).