Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary
in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
- Middle 50%
- $58,090–$78,420
- vs U.S. median
- +6%
- Metro rank
- #39 of 118
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro earn a median of $63,830 a year, based on BLS estimates for 4,660 jobs (May 2025). That is 6% above the U.S. median of $60,280 and 2% above the MA statewide median of $62,500. It ranks #39 of 118 metros with published figures for this job.
- SOURCEBLS OEWS, May 2025
- SAMPLE4,660 jobs (estimate)
- SCOPEall employers, all experience levels
- PERIODMay 2025 estimates
Full percentile breakdown
BLS · metro vs U.S.
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Employers filing for this job in Boston
1 employers · DOL
Median of each employer’s DOL LCA filings (5+ filings) in this metro, FY2026 Q3. Visa-sponsored positions only, base pay.
| Employer | Median base | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| North Suffolk Community Services | $82,400 | 5 |
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers pay in other MA metros
3 metros · BLS
| Metro | Median |
|---|---|
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $69,960 |
| Worcester, MA | $60,480 |
| Springfield, MA | $60,250 |
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RELATED JOBS IN BOSTON
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselorsmedian $62,130 · 11,150 jobs
- Social and Human Service Assistantsmedian $47,530 · 6,090 jobs
- Child, Family, and School Social Workersmedian $77,420 · 7,070 jobs
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisorsmedian $80,760 · 8,170 jobs
- Healthcare Social Workersmedian $78,410 · 4,950 jobs
- Community and Social Service Specialists, All Othermedian $59,890 · 1,410 jobs
- Rehabilitation Counselorsmedian $47,440 · 3,430 jobs
- Health Education Specialistsmedian $62,260 · 1,620 jobs
Questions
What is the average Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary in Boston?
The BLS median is $63,830 a year (May 2025). Half of the 4,660 jobs pay between $58,090 and $78,420. The 10th percentile is $49,280 and the 90th is $102,830.
Is Boston a high-paying metro for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers?
That is 6% above the U.S. median of $60,280 and 2% above the MA statewide median of $62,500. It ranks #39 of 118 U.S. metros with published BLS figures for this job.
How much do Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers make an hour in Boston?
About $30.69 an hour at the median (the BLS annual figure of $63,830 divided by 2,080 hours, the conversion BLS uses). The middle half earn about $27.93–$37.70 an hour. Straight-time pay, before overtime and shift differentials.
Does this include experience levels?
BLS figures cover all experience levels together. Employer filings carry a DOL wage level, which the free checker can filter by (approximate).
Which employers pay Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers the most in Boston?
Among employers with 5+ visa-sponsored filings here, the highest medians were North Suffolk Community Services ($82,400). These are base wages for sponsored positions, not all employees.
Sources: U.S. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (national + state) (metro area estimates, all employers); employer rows from U.S. DOL OFLC LCA Disclosure Data, FY2026 Q3 (LCA_Disclosure_Data_FY2026_Q3.xlsx). Base pay only. Estimates can have sampling error, especially for smaller metros.