Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
The median pay for a mental health and substance abuse social workers in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX is $52,430/year ($25.21/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $89K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.63), that's roughly $53,158 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,573/month — about 43.2% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $52K get you in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands’s Regional Price Parity (98.63). 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, Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
Entry-level mental health and substance abuse social workers (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $52K. Top earners bring in $89K or more, a $53K 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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do mental health and substance abuse social workers make in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
The median is $52,430 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,480, and experienced mental health and substance abuse social workers can clear $89,390. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $52K enough to live in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,681/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,573/month, which eats 42.7% 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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands?
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands has a Regional Price Parity of 98.63 (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 $53,158 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.