Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Massachusetts. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where Massachusetts mental health and substance abuse social workers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $53,970 and $78,750, with a median of $62,500.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Massachusetts: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 18 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $63,048. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 10 | $54,500 |
| Level II — qualified | 2 | $61,300 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 2 | $147,750 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Massachusetts. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| GANDARA Mental HEALTH CENTER Inc | FSS Support Worker | 5 | $46,000 |
| North Suffolk Community Services, Inc. | Clinical Coordinator | 3 | $82,400 |
| Golden Hour Counseling, PLLC | Mental Health Clinician | 2 | $61,300 |
| Lynn Community Health, Inc | Behavioral Health Integrated Therapist | 2 | $63,048 |
| Boston Area Rape Crisis Center, Inc. | Bilingual Senior Managing Clinician | 1 | $87,500 |
| Boston Medical Center Corporation | Crisis Intervention Counselor | 1 | $81,549 |
| Cambridge Public Health Commission | Behavioral Health Clinician - LCSW [00071749] | 1 | $92,456 |
| North Charles Mental Health Research and Training Foundation, Inc. | Addiction Treatment Specialist | 1 | $55,000 |
| Orange Door Collaborative, LLC | Licensed Mental Health Therapist | 1 | $208,000 |
| TRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY | Staff Therapist | 1 | $103,996 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Clinical Coordinator at North Suffolk Community Services, Inc.$85,000BostonDecided Jan 20, 2026I-200-26012-551933
- Behavioral Health Integrated Therapist at Lynn Community Health, Inc$62,424Lynn CityWage Level IDecided Jan 15, 2026I-200-26008-544350
- Care Coordinator at GANDARA Mental HEALTH CENTER Inc$54,000WorcesterWage Level IDecided Jan 12, 2026I-200-26005-535071
- Bilingual Senior Managing Clinician at Boston Area Rape Crisis Center, Inc.$87,500CambridgeWage Level IVDecided Dec 2, 2025I-200-25328-433722
- Family Support Worker at GANDARA Mental HEALTH CENTER Inc$53,000WorcesterWage Level IDecided Nov 28, 2025I-200-25324-425370
- Clinical Coordinator at North Suffolk Community Services, Inc.$80,000ChelseaDecided Nov 18, 2025I-200-25315-397020
- Crisis Intervention Counselor at Boston Medical Center Corporation$81,549BostonWage Level IDecided Sep 30, 2025I-200-25266-328942
- Licensed Mental Health Therapist at Orange Door Collaborative, LLC$208,000CambridgeWage Level IVDecided Aug 18, 2025I-200-25224-235373
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers pay by experience level in Massachusetts
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Massachusetts, by industry
Median offered wage across 18 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Healthcare leads with a median of $62,424.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | GANDARA Mental HEALTH CENTER Inc | 17 | $62,424 |
| Education | TRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY | 1 | $103,996 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Massachusetts over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Master's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.8 / 5
Therapy and Counseling
Knowledge
- 4.7 / 5
Psychology
Knowledge
- 4.5 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.3 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
- 4.3 / 5
Social Perceptiveness
Technical
- 4.1 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
- 4.1 / 5
Speaking
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Counsel clients in individual or group sessions to assist them in dealing with substance abuse, mental or physical illness, poverty, unemployment, or physical abuse.
- 02
Collaborate with counselors, physicians, or nurses to plan or coordinate treatment, drawing on social work experience and patient needs.
- 03
Monitor, evaluate, and record client progress with respect to treatment goals.
- 04
Interview clients, review records, conduct assessments, or confer with other professionals to evaluate the mental or physical condition of clients or patients.
- 05
Supervise or direct other workers who provide services to clients or patients.
- 06
Modify treatment plans according to changes in client status.
- 07
Assist clients in adhering to treatment plans, such as setting up appointments, arranging for transportation to appointments, or providing support.
- 08
Educate clients or community members about mental or physical illness, abuse, medication, or available community resources.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+9.7%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Metro-level salary data for mental health and substance abuse social workers in major Massachusetts metropolitan areas.
- Boston$63,830
Compare Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers pay across nearby states
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Massachusetts?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Massachusetts is $62,500.
- How does Massachusetts compare to the national median for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers?
- The Massachusetts median is +0.6% versus the BLS national figure of $62,142.
- What is the salary range for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Massachusetts?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $48,260 and the 90th-percentile at $100,670, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 9.7% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Master's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.