Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary
The median pay for a mental health and substance abuse social workers in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO is $70,920/year ($34.1/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $96K for experienced workers.
So what does $71K get you in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Pueblo | $66K | , |
| Colorado Springs | $64K | , |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $68K | , |
| Boulder | $84K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
Entry-level mental health and substance abuse social workers (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $71K. Top earners bring in $96K or more, a $46K 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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial numbers change.
Related careers in Community & Social
Frequently asked questions
Can a mental health and substance abuse social worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $71K, rent takes 44.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,044/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,400/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for mental health and substance abuse social workers in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mental health and substance abuse social workers typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,959/month.
Is mental health and substance abuse social worker a high-paying job in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Local pay is 18% above the national median — $71K here vs. $60K nationally.
How does Denver-Aurora-Centennial compare to the national average for mental health and substance abuse social workers?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial pays $71K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s +18%.
How much do mental health and substance abuse social workers make in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The median is $70,920 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,320, and experienced mental health and substance abuse social workers can clear $95,590. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $71K enough to live in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,597/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,044/month, which eats 44.5% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a mental health and substance abuse social workers salary go in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial 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 $70,920 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.