Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in New York. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where New York 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 $64,430 and $95,520, with a median of $79,380.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in New York: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 55 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $74,700. 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 | 27 | $57,533 |
| Level II — qualified | 13 | $93,600 |
| Level III — experienced | 3 | $120,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 7 | $104,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in New York. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton-Madison House | Behavioral Health Clinician | 10 | $55,453 |
| YAI-National Institute for People with Disabilities | Mental Health Clinician | 7 | $60,000 |
| New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation | Mental Health Counselor, Level I | 5 | $74,700 |
| Phronetic Psychotherapy LCSW PC | Psychotherapist | 5 | $104,000 |
| Interborough Developmental & Consultation Center, Inc. | CCBHC Therapist | 3 | $100,000 |
| The Child Center of NY, Inc. | Master Social Worker | 3 | $52,541 |
| ACMH, Inc. | Mental Health Clinician | 2 | $73,335 |
| Colorful Mind LCSW PLLC | Clinical Social Worker Supervisor | 2 | $124,800 |
| The Child Center of NY | Master Social Worker | 2 | $52,541 |
| TMR Mental Health Care PC | Psychotherapist | 2 | $98,238 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Mental Health Clinician at YAI-National Institute for People with Disabilities$60,000BaysideWage Level IDecided Mar 23, 2026I-200-26075-705170
- Psychotherapist at Phronetic Psychotherapy LCSW PC$104,000New YorkWage Level IVDecided Mar 11, 2026I-200-26063-680387
- ACT Family Specialist at BestSelf Behavioral Health, Inc.$53,040BuffaloWage Level IDecided Mar 10, 2026I-200-26062-676357
- Bilingual Intake Coordinator Family Support Program at Center for Family Life in Sunset Park Inc.$57,533BrooklynWage Level IDecided Feb 6, 2026I-200-26030-607431
- Social Worker MSW at Maimonides Medical Center$83,168BrooklynWage Level IIDecided Nov 18, 2025I-200-25314-393701
- Social Worker, Level III at New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation$95,713New YorkDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25307-363730
- Psychotherapist at TMR Mental Health Care PC$98,238RidgewoodWage Level IIDecided Nov 7, 2025I-200-25273-345799
- Psychotherapist at TMR Mental Health Care PC$98,238RidgewoodWage Level IIDecided Sep 9, 2025I-200-25245-280133
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 New York
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 specialties in New York
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 43 certified offers. The most common variant is Psychotherapist at a median of $101,119.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychotherapist | Phronetic Psychotherapy LCSW PC | 10 | $101,119 |
| Mental Health Clinician | YAI-National Institute for People with Disabilities | 8 | $60,000 |
| Behavioral Health Clinician | Hamilton-Madison House | 6 | $57,294 |
| Master Social Worker | The Child Center of NY, Inc. | 5 | $52,541 |
| Social Worker | New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation | 4 | $93,857 |
| PROS Counselor | Hamilton-Madison House | 4 | $54,392 |
| Mental Health Counselor, Level | New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation | 3 | $74,700 |
| CCBHC Therapist | Interborough Developmental & Consultation Center, Inc. | 3 | $100,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in New York, by industry
Median offered wage across 55 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Healthcare leads with a median of $74,700.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | Hamilton-Madison House | 53 | $74,700 |
| Education | Pace University | 1 | $67,000 |
| Nonprofit and civic | Independent Drivers Guild Inc. | 1 | $92,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in New York 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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Explore coursesTop metros in New York
Metro-level salary data for mental health and substance abuse social workers in major New York metropolitan areas.
- New York City$82,450
- Buffalo$70,230
Compare Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare New York with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in New York?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in New York is $79,380.
- How does New York compare to the national median for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers?
- The New York median is +27.7% versus the BLS national figure of $62,142.
- What is the salary range for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in New York?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $54,650 and the 90th-percentile at $122,340, 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.