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Occupation · SOC 21-1023

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers

There are 132,810 jobs in the U.S. Median pay is $60,280 a year. The most jobs are in New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ.

Community & Social ServiceTypical education: Master's degree
132,810
Jobs in the U.S.
People employed, May 2025
$60,280
Median pay a year
Middle half: $47,070–$79,730
12,500
Annual openings
10-year change: +10.3%
135
LCA filings, last 4 quarters
+23.9% from the prior 4 quarters

Metro areas with the highest employment

10 of 290 metro areas with BLS data for this occupation. LCA filings: Apr 2025–Mar 2026.

Metro areaEmploymentMedian payLCA filings
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJMedian pay $82,450 · LCA filings 3212,090$82,45032
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CAMedian pay $78,410 · LCA filings 89,380$78,4108
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHMedian pay $63,830 · LCA filings 104,660$63,83010
Phoenix–Mesa–Chandler, AZMedian pay $46,340 · LCA filings 02,870$46,3400
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXMedian pay $47,390 · LCA filings 02,720$47,3900
Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington, MN–WIMedian pay $75,020 · LCA filings 22,500$75,0202
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INMedian pay $57,720 · LCA filings 92,450$57,7209
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVMedian pay $78,210 · LCA filings 32,180$78,2103
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDMedian pay $54,510 · LCA filings 172,140$54,51017
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAMedian pay $87,550 · LCA filings 61,990$87,5506

Metro areas with the highest median pay

Median pay for this occupation in each metro area, May 2025.

Metro areaMedian payEmploymentLCA filings
Vallejo, CAEmployment 120 · LCA filings 0$122,9301200
Cheyenne, WYEmployment 30 · LCA filings 0$118,900300
San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CAEmployment 1,010 · LCA filings 4$109,0501,0104
San Luis Obispo–Paso Robles, CAEmployment 140 · LCA filings 0$98,8001400
Salinas, CAEmployment 100 · LCA filings 0$97,2001000

Metro areas with the most LCA filings

Labor Condition Applications filed by employers with the U.S. Department of Labor, Apr 2025–Mar 2026. They’re used in the H-1B process and show filing history, not hires or current job openings.

Metro areaLCA filingsEmployers with LCA filingsEmployment
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJEmployers with LCA filings 12 · Employment 12,090321212,090
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDEmployers with LCA filings 6 · Employment 2,1401762,140
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHEmployers with LCA filings 7 · Employment 4,6601074,660
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INEmployers with LCA filings 6 · Employment 2,450962,450
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CAEmployers with LCA filings 5 · Employment 9,380859,380

Prevailing wage levels (H-1B and PERM)

The minimum yearly wage by level. Level I is entry level and Level IV is fully competent; an H-1B employer must pay at least the level that fits the job.

Metro areaLevel ILevel IILevel IIILevel IV
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJLevel II $74,194 · Level III $88,774 · Level IV $103,334$59,634$74,194$88,774$103,334
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CALevel II $66,976 · Level III $86,154 · Level IV $105,331$47,798$66,976$86,154$105,331
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHLevel II $61,776 · Level III $70,949 · Level IV $80,101$52,624$61,776$70,949$80,101
Phoenix–Mesa–Chandler, AZLevel II $46,925 · Level III $51,106 · Level IV $55,266$42,765$46,925$51,106$55,266
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXLevel II $45,635 · Level III $52,936 · Level IV $60,237$38,334$45,635$52,936$60,237
Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington, MN–WILevel II $64,522 · Level III $74,110 · Level IV $83,699$54,933$64,522$74,110$83,699
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INLevel II $53,102 · Level III $60,965 · Level IV $68,848$45,219$53,102$60,965$68,848
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVLevel II $71,115 · Level III $83,512 · Level IV $95,930$58,698$71,115$83,512$95,930
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDLevel II $51,064 · Level III $59,155 · Level IV $67,246$42,973$51,064$59,155$67,246
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CALevel II $85,051 · Level III $109,283 · Level IV $133,515$60,819$85,051$109,283$133,515

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027.

Related majors

Majors most closely related to this occupation. International graduates: 2024–25 academic year.

MajorInternational graduatesSTEM OPT
Social WorkCIP 44.07OPT · up to 12 months744OPT · up to 12 months
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied ProfessionsCIP 51.15OPT · up to 12 months617OPT · up to 12 months
Psychology, GeneralCIP 42.01 · Usually needs more educationOPT · up to 12 months3,319OPT · up to 12 months

See Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in every metro area

All 290 metro areas, pay in each, related majors, schools in each job market, and employers with LCA filing history.

Employers with LCA filings for this occupation

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Related occupations · Community & Social Service

Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsSocial and Human Service AssistantsChild, Family, and School Social WorkersEducational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsClergyHealthcare Social WorkersDirectors, Religious Activities and EducationReligious Workers, All Other

Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 · U.S. Department of Labor LCA disclosure data, Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · IPEDS 2024–25. Prevailing wages: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027. Methodology