Community and social service
Mental health and substance abuse social workers
Assess and treat individuals with mental, emotional, or substance abuse problems, including abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and/or other drugs. Activities may include individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, case management, client advocacy, prevention, and education.
Median pay
$60,280
Growth to 2035
+10%
faster than average
Openings a year
12,500
Time to qualify*
4 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Mental health and substance abuse social workers
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Master's degree
- On-the-job training
- Internship/residency
- Prior experience
- None
Calculate your switch to mental health and substance abuse social workers
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Exposure to disease
Mental health and substance abuse social workers: 27% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Counsel clients in individual or group sessions to assist them in dealing with substance abuse, mental or physical illness, poverty, unemployment, or physical abuse.
- Collaborate with counselors, physicians, or nurses to plan or coordinate treatment, drawing on social work experience and patient needs.
- Monitor, evaluate, and record client progress with respect to treatment goals.
- Interview clients, review records, conduct assessments, or confer with other professionals to evaluate the mental or physical condition of clients or patients.
- Supervise or direct other workers who provide services to clients or patients.
- Modify treatment plans according to changes in client status.
- Assist clients in adhering to treatment plans, such as setting up appointments, arranging for transportation to appointments, or providing support.
- Educate clients or community members about mental or physical illness, abuse, medication, or available community resources.
Also called: Case Manager · Clinical Social Worker · Clinical Therapist · Clinician · Counselor · Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) · Mental Health Therapist · Social Worker
Outlook and AI
Mental health and substance abuse social workers held 138,900 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 153,200 by 2035 (+10%, faster than average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Mental health and substance abuse social workers vs. Healthcare social worker
- Mental health and substance abuse social workers vs. Marriage and family therapists
- Mental health and substance abuse social workers vs. Rehabilitation counselor
- Mental health and substance abuse social workers vs. Clinical psychologist
- Mental health and substance abuse social workers vs. Social worker
- Mental health and substance abuse social workers vs. Registered nurse
- Mental health and substance abuse social workers vs. Psychiatrist
- Mental health and substance abuse social workers vs. Psychologists, all other