Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary in Tennessee
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Tennessee earn a median annual wage of $46,500 —22.9% below the national median of $60,280. That ranks TN #43 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 0.79× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in Tennessee.
Highest-paying states for mental health and substance abuse social workers
All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. Tennessee 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 Tennessee
Occupations in the same job family, compared within Tennessee.
| Occupation | Tennessee median | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | $49,580 | $59,350 |
| Social and Human Service Assistants | $40,310 | $45,930 |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $56,310 | $59,550 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $59,960 | $64,330 |
| Healthcare Social Workers | $61,240 | $67,880 |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | $53,850 | $56,730 |
Frequently asked questions
How much do mental health and substance abuse social workers make in Tennessee?
The median annual wage for mental health and substance abuse social workers in Tennessee is $46,500, or $22.36 per hour. That is 22.9% below the national median of $60,280.
What is the entry-level mental health and substance abuse social workers salary in Tennessee?
Workers at the 10th percentile earn $38,320 per year ($18.43/hour). The 25th percentile is $42,780.
How many people work as mental health and substance abuse social workers in Tennessee?
About 2,220 people work in this occupation in Tennessee, or 0.7 per 1,000 jobs statewide.
Is Tennessee a good state for mental health and substance abuse social workers?
Tennessee ranks #43 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.79x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in Tennessee.
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).