Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary
The median pay for a mental health and substance abuse social workers in Boulder, CO is $84,450/year ($40.6/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $123K for experienced workers.
So what does $84K get you in Boulder?
About mental health and substance abuse social workers
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Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for mental health and substance abuse social workers in metros near Boulder, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $71K | , |
| Pueblo | $66K | , |
| Colorado Springs | $64K | , |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $68K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Boulder, CO
Entry-level mental health and substance abuse social workers (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $84K. Top earners bring in $123K or more, a $74K spread from bottom to top.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $79K | +32% | 14,820 |
| California | $79K | +31% | 19,860 |
| Connecticut | $79K | +30% | 1,540 |
| Minnesota | $75K | +24% | 3,590 |
| Maryland | $74K | +22% | 2,250 |
| District of Columbia | $73K | +22% | 510 |
| Vermont | $73K | +21% | 320 |
| Washington | $70K | +17% | 3,490 |
| Oregon | $68K | +13% | 2,230 |
| New Jersey | $67K | +10% | 2,420 |
| New Mexico | $66K | +9% | 800 |
| Colorado | $66K | +9% | 1,640 |
| Virginia | $64K | +7% | 3,670 |
| New Hampshire | $64K | +6% | 320 |
| Nevada | $63K | +4% | 1,100 |
| Massachusetts | $63K | +4% | 7,440 |
| Wisconsin | $62K | +3% | 1,880 |
| Rhode Island | $61K | +1% | 800 |
| North Dakota | $61K | +1% | 240 |
| Michigan | $61K | +1% | 4,620 |
| Delaware | $60K | -0% | 510 |
| Wyoming | $59K | -2% | 200 |
| Arkansas | $59K | -3% | 1,040 |
| North Carolina | $58K | -3% | 3,690 |
| Maine | $57K | -5% | 1,860 |
| Alaska | $57K | -6% | 250 |
| Kansas | $56K | -7% | 1,620 |
| Hawaii | $54K | -10% | N/A |
| Idaho | $53K | -13% | 510 |
| Georgia | $52K | -14% | 1,330 |
| Florida | $52K | -14% | 5,150 |
| Utah | $51K | -16% | 1,240 |
| West Virginia | $50K | -17% | 420 |
| Illinois | $50K | -17% | 3,460 |
| Missouri | $50K | -18% | 1,640 |
| Mississippi | $49K | -19% | 920 |
| South Dakota | $49K | -19% | 230 |
| Iowa | $49K | -19% | 1,200 |
| Indiana | $48K | -20% | 2,490 |
| Pennsylvania | $48K | -20% | 3,500 |
| Louisiana | $47K | -22% | 970 |
| Texas | $47K | -23% | 8,220 |
| Tennessee | $47K | -23% | 2,220 |
| Arizona | $46K | -23% | 3,690 |
| Ohio | $46K | -24% | 6,050 |
| Montana | $45K | -25% | 740 |
| Nebraska | $43K | -28% | 900 |
| Oklahoma | $43K | -28% | 1,780 |
| Kentucky | $43K | -29% | 1,360 |
| Alabama | $42K | -31% | 740 |
| South Carolina | $40K | -34% | 720 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 states
Track mental health and substance abuse social workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Boulder numbers change.
Related careers in Community & Social
Frequently asked questions
What’s the entry-level salary for mental health and substance abuse social workers in Boulder?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mental health and substance abuse social workers typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,902/month.
Is mental health and substance abuse social worker a high-paying job in Boulder?
Local pay is 40% above the national median — $84K here vs. $60K nationally.
How does Boulder compare to the national average for mental health and substance abuse social workers?
Boulder pays $84K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s +40%.
How much do mental health and substance abuse social workers make in Boulder, CO?
The median is $84,450 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,370, and experienced mental health and substance abuse social workers can clear $122,510. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $84K enough to live in Boulder?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,340/month after taxes. Rent data is not available for this area.
How far does a mental health and substance abuse social workers salary go in Boulder?
Boulder has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median mental health and substance abuse social workers salary is worth about $84,450 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do mental health and substance abuse social workers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.