State comparison · 2025
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary: Alabama vs California
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in California earn a median of $79,000. In Alabama, $41,500. After cost-of-living, the gap is 34.5% — not 47.5%.
Nominal pay gap
-47.5%
Alabama vs California
COL-adjusted gap
-34.5%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
Alabama
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
- Median
- $41,500
- p25
- $35,740
- p75
- $55,640
- p10
- $29,370
- p90
- $64,750
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 88.8
California
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
- Median
- $79,000
- p25
- $57,800
- p75
- $118,860
- p10
- $46,450
- p90
- $147,300
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -29%
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.