Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary
The median pay for a mental health and substance abuse social workers in Montana is $45,160/year ($21.71/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $82K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $46,557 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,129/month, about 36.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Montana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $45K get you in Montana?
About mental health and substance abuse social workers
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What this looks like in Montana
Pay for mental health and substance abuse social workers in Montana runs about 25% below the U.S. median of $60K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,129/month, which is 36.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 97) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for mental health and substance abuse social workerss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level mental health and substance abuse social workers (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $45K. Top earners bring in $82K or more, a $44K spread from bottom to top.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary by metro in Montana
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helena | $60K | +33% | 90 |
| Missoula | $46K | +3% | 140 |
| Great Falls | $45K | +0% | 50 |
| Billings | $43K | -4% | 260 |
Compare to other states
Track mental health and substance abuse social workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a mental health and substance abuse social worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $45K, rent takes 36.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,129/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/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 Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mental health and substance abuse social workers typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,278/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 50% 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 Montana?
Local pay runs 25% below the national median — $45K here vs. $60K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for mental health and substance abuse social workers?
Montana pays $45K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s -25%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $47K — below the national median.
How much do mental health and substance abuse social workers make in Montana?
The median is $45,160 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,960, and experienced mental health and substance abuse social workers can clear $82,390. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $45K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,064/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 36.8% 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 Montana?
Montana has a Regional Price Parity of 97 (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 $46,557 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.