Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
The median pay for a mental health and substance abuse social workers in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is $60,290/year ($28.98/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $82K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.7), which stretches that salary to about $65,747 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,318/month — about 33.3% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $60K get you in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Des Moines-West Des Moines’s Regional Price Parity (91.7). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About mental health and substance abuse social workers
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Entry-level mental health and substance abuse social workers (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $82K or more, a $43K 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
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $80K | +34% | 14,180 |
| Connecticut | $79K | +31% | 1,350 |
| Minnesota | $77K | +28% | 3,430 |
| California | $75K | +25% | 18,020 |
| District of Columbia | $73K | +21% | 640 |
| Oregon | $72K | +20% | 2,160 |
| New Jersey | $70K | +17% | 3,140 |
| Hawaii | $70K | +17% | 410 |
| Vermont | $70K | +16% | 370 |
| Washington | $69K | +15% | 3,490 |
| Maine | $68K | +13% | 1,120 |
| New Mexico | $66K | +9% | 620 |
| Massachusetts | $65K | +8% | 6,790 |
| New Hampshire | $64K | +6% | 460 |
| Virginia | $64K | +6% | 3,130 |
| North Dakota | $62K | +3% | 230 |
| Maryland | $61K | +2% | 1,950 |
| Rhode Island | $60K | +1% | 620 |
| Michigan | $60K | -0% | 5,130 |
| Illinois | $58K | -3% | 1,730 |
| Alaska | $58K | -4% | 340 |
| Delaware | $58K | -4% | 410 |
| Wisconsin | $58K | -4% | 1,950 |
| North Carolina | $57K | -6% | 2,700 |
| Kansas | $56K | -7% | 1,360 |
| Indiana | $54K | -9% | 2,060 |
| Idaho | $51K | -15% | 390 |
| Florida | $51K | -15% | 6,260 |
| Georgia | $51K | -15% | 1,450 |
| Iowa | $50K | -16% | 1,260 |
| Nevada | $50K | -17% | 1,140 |
| Arkansas | $50K | -17% | 930 |
| Pennsylvania | $50K | -17% | 4,150 |
| South Dakota | $50K | -17% | 240 |
| Mississippi | $49K | -19% | 890 |
| Tennessee | $49K | -19% | 2,130 |
| West Virginia | $48K | -20% | 390 |
| Arizona | $47K | -22% | 3,610 |
| Ohio | $46K | -23% | 6,870 |
| Missouri | $46K | -23% | 2,530 |
| Kentucky | $45K | -24% | 1,040 |
| Nebraska | $45K | -25% | 800 |
| Texas | $45K | -25% | 5,810 |
| Louisiana | $44K | -27% | 980 |
| Montana | $44K | -27% | 630 |
| Oklahoma | $43K | -28% | 1,470 |
| Wyoming | $42K | -30% | 140 |
| Alabama | $42K | -30% | 670 |
| South Carolina | $42K | -30% | 650 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track mental health and substance abuse social workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Des Moines-West Des Moines numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do mental health and substance abuse social workers make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median is $60,290 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,180, and experienced mental health and substance abuse social workers can clear $81,850. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,956/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,318/month, which eats 33.3% 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Des Moines-West Des Moines has a Regional Price Parity of 91.7 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median mental health and substance abuse social workers salary is worth about $65,747 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.