Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary in Seattle, WA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

Median annual salary $77,360 +28.8% vs national
Median hourly $37.19
10th percentile $49,700
90th percentile $107,010
Employed locally 2,020
National median $60,060

Compare Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Seattle, WA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
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Seattle, WA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $49,700
    25th
    $56,300
    50th (median)
    $77,360
    75th
    $91,170
    90th
    $107,010

    Seattle economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $112,594 2023 • Census ACS
    Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary vs area income 69% Median Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary is 31% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Cheyenne, WY $118,900
    San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $116,630
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $102,760
    Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area $101,100
    Vallejo, CA $98,680
    Las Cruces, NM $97,490

    Nearby metros — Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Waterbury-Shelton, CT $84,150
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $83,490
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $77,600
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $77,260
    Bellingham, WA $76,180
    Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $75,200

    Related occupations in Seattle, WA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$65,290
    Child, Family, and School Social Workers$72,950
    Social and Human Service Assistants$53,010
    Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$86,490
    Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other$63,810
    Healthcare Social Workers$82,140

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers make per hour in Seattle?

    The median hourly wage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Seattle, WA is $37.19, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $50.90 or more per hour.

    Is Seattle above or below average for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salaries?

    The median Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary in Seattle, WA is 28.8% above the national median of $60,060. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Seattle?

    Entry-level Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers (10th percentile) earn around $49,700 per year in Seattle, WA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $56,300.