Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary
The median pay for a mental health and substance abuse social workers in Colorado is $65,620/year ($31.55/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $96K for experienced workers.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Colorado. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $66K get you in Colorado?
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado
Entry-level mental health and substance abuse social workers (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $66K. Top earners bring in $96K or more, a $49K spread from bottom to top.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary by metro in Colorado
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $84K | +29% | 70 |
| Grand Junction | $80K | +22% | 30 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $71K | +8% | 900 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $68K | +4% | 110 |
| Pueblo | $66K | +0% | 200 |
| Colorado Springs | $64K | -3% | 140 |
| Greeley | $50K | -25% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track mental health and substance abuse social workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Colorado numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a mental health and substance abuse social worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Colorado?
Yes — at the median salary of $66K, rent takes 27.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,187/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for mental health and substance abuse social workers in Colorado?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mental health and substance abuse social workers typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,826/month.
Is mental health and substance abuse social worker a high-paying job in Colorado?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $66K locally vs. $60K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Colorado compare to the national average for mental health and substance abuse social workers?
Colorado pays $66K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s +9%.
How much do mental health and substance abuse social workers make in Colorado?
The median is $65,620 a year, that works out to about $32 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,100, and experienced mental health and substance abuse social workers can clear $95,950. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $66K enough to live in Colorado?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,305/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,187/month, which eats 27.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a mental health and substance abuse social workers salary go in Colorado?
Colorado 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 $65,620 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.