Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
Assess and treat individuals with mental, emotional, or substance abuse problems, including abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and/or other drugs. Activities may include individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, case management, client advocacy, prevention, and education.
SOC: 21-1023.00
Common Job Titles
Case ManagerMental Health TherapistSocial WorkerTherapist
Wage Data According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Annual wage data for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers (2024)
Estimated Total Employment (U.S.)
125,910
Wage Distribution by Percentile
| Metric | U.S. |
|---|---|
| 10% of workers earn the following or less | $39,620 |
| 10% of workers earn the following or more | $104,130 |
| Workers on average earn | $68,290 |
+ indicates wage is at or above the BLS reporting cap ($239,200/year)
Skills & Requirements
Key competencies for this occupation, ranked by importance
- Therapy and Counseling4.8/5
- Psychology4.7/5
- English Language3.9/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.8/5
- Education and Training3.7/5
Tools & Technology
Equipment and software commonly used in this occupation
In-Demand Technology
Frequently requested by employers in job postings
Adobe AcrobatMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft SharePointMicrosoft Word
Technology Skills
Adobe PageMakerClient records softwareCorel WordPerfect Office SuiteDatabase softwareEmail softwareInformation presentation softwareJames Frazier Associates DataStartMedical condition coding software
Tools & Equipment
Desktop computersNotebook computersPersonal computers