Alabama ranks 49th of 50 states and D.C. for mental health and substance abuse social workers pay, trailing top-paying New York ($80,230) by $38,130 — a 91% gap.
The 10th-to-90th percentile range runs from $29,200 to $63,070 — a $33,870 spread, 47% tighter than the national $64,510 range.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers are less concentrated in Alabama than the U.S. average — a location quotient of 0.39 means the occupation's share of local jobs is 2.56× below the national share.
Salary Range: 10th to 90th Percentile
Full Percentile Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual Wage | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $29,200 | $14.04 |
| 25th percentile | $31,910 | $15.34 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $42,100 | $20.24 |
| 75th percentile | $55,000 | $26.44 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,070 | $30.32 |
| Mean (average) | $44,670 | $21.47 |
How Alabama Compares
| State | Median Annual | vs. Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama (current) | $42,100 | n/a |
| New York | $80,230 | +91% |
| Connecticut | $78,820 | +87% |
| Minnesota | $77,100 | +83% |
| California | $75,320 | +79% |
| District of Columbia | $72,720 | +73% |
| Oregon | $71,830 | +71% |
| New Jersey | $70,420 | +67% |
| Hawaii | $70,340 | +67% |
Showing top-paying states with available data. View all states →
Related Occupations in Alabama
| Occupation | Median Annual | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $41,750 | 1,940 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $42,490 | 18,550 |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | $41,600 | 16,950 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $42,640 | 16,870 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | $42,670 | 24,440 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $41,290 | 270 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary in Alabama?
The mean mental health and substance abuse social workers salary in Alabama is $44,670 per year. The median (middle) salary is $42,100 per year.
What is the starting salary for a Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Alabama?
Entry-level mental health and substance abuse social workerss (10th percentile) in Alabama typically earn around $29,200 per year. Workers at the 25th percentile earn approximately $31,910 per year.
What is the highest Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary in Alabama?
Top earners (90th percentile) in this occupation in Alabama make approximately $63,070 per year. Those in the 75th percentile earn around $55,000 per year.
How does the Alabama Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary compare to the national average?
The median mental health and substance abuse social workers salary in Alabama is $42,100, which is -30% below national average of $60,060.