Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary
The median pay for a mental health and substance abuse social workers in Maine is $57,050/year ($27.43/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $96K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.7), that's roughly $58,393 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,281/month, about 34.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Maine. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $57K get you in Maine?
About mental health and substance abuse social workers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Maine
Mental health and substance abuse social workers pay in Maine tracks closely to the national median, $57K locally vs. $60K nationwide, a 5% difference. Rent runs $1,281/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 97.7) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Maine
Entry-level mental health and substance abuse social workers (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $57K. Top earners bring in $96K or more, a $51K spread from bottom to top.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary by metro in Maine
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lewiston-Auburn | $62K | +8% | 130 |
| Bangor | $61K | +6% | 260 |
| Portland-South Portland | $59K | +3% | 810 |
Compare to other states
Track mental health and substance abuse social workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Maine 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 Maine?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $57K, rent takes 34% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,281/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/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 Maine?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mental health and substance abuse social workers typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,752/month. At HUD’s $1,281/month FMR, rent would take 47% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is mental health and substance abuse social worker a high-paying job in Maine?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $57K locally vs. $60K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Maine compare to the national average for mental health and substance abuse social workers?
Maine pays $57K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $58K — below the national median.
How much do mental health and substance abuse social workers make in Maine?
The median is $57,050 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,870, and experienced mental health and substance abuse social workers can clear $96,370. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $57K enough to live in Maine?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,770/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,281/month, which eats 34% 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 Maine?
Maine has a Regional Price Parity of 97.7 (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 $58,393 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.