Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary
The median pay for a mental health and substance abuse social workers in Tennessee is $46,500/year ($22.36/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $68K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $51,793 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 36.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $47K get you in Tennessee?
About mental health and substance abuse social workers
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for mental health and substance abuse social workers in Tennessee runs about 23% below the U.S. median of $60K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,215/month, which is 37% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. 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, Tennessee
Entry-level mental health and substance abuse social workers (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $68K or more, a $30K spread from bottom to top.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary by metro in Tennessee
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland | $50K | +7% | 50 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $49K | +5% | 800 |
| Memphis | $47K | +1% | 380 |
| Knoxville | $46K | -2% | 250 |
| Chattanooga | $45K | -2% | 150 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $45K | -3% | 100 |
| Morristown | $43K | -8% | 30 |
| Clarksville | $43K | -8% | 90 |
| Johnson City | $42K | -9% | 100 |
| Jackson | $37K | -20% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track mental health and substance abuse social workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a mental health and substance abuse social worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $47K, rent takes 37% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/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 Tennessee?
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 $2,299/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 53% 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 Tennessee?
Local pay runs 23% below the national median — $47K here vs. $60K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for mental health and substance abuse social workers?
Tennessee pays $47K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s -23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $52K — below the national median.
How much do mental health and substance abuse social workers make in Tennessee?
The median is $46,500 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,320, and experienced mental health and substance abuse social workers can clear $68,430. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,283/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 37% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $51,793 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.