Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary
The median pay for a mental health and substance abuse social workers in Utica-Rome, NY is $73,200/year ($35.19/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $96K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.68), which stretches that salary to about $78,981 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,172/month, or 24.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $73K get you in Utica-Rome?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Utica-Rome’s Regional Price Parity (92.68). 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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What this looks like in Utica-Rome
Utica-Rome sits well above the national pay line for mental health and substance abuse social workers, local pay runs about 21% higher than the U.S. median of $60K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,172/month, 24.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.68 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Utica-Rome offers a genuinely strong financial position for mental health and substance abuse social workerss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for mental health and substance abuse social workers in metros near Utica-Rome, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $82K | $73K |
| Rochester | $69K | $71K |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga | $70K | $73K |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy | $77K | $77K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Utica-Rome, NY
Entry-level mental health and substance abuse social workers (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $73K. Top earners bring in $96K or more, a $49K 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
View Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $79K | +32% | 14,820 |
| California | $79K | +31% | 19,860 |
| Connecticut | $79K | +30% | 1,540 |
| Minnesota | $75K | +24% | 3,590 |
| Maryland | $74K | +22% | 2,250 |
| District of Columbia | $73K | +22% | 510 |
| Vermont | $73K | +21% | 320 |
| Washington | $70K | +17% | 3,490 |
| Oregon | $68K | +13% | 2,230 |
| New Jersey | $67K | +10% | 2,420 |
| New Mexico | $66K | +9% | 800 |
| Colorado | $66K | +9% | 1,640 |
| Virginia | $64K | +7% | 3,670 |
| New Hampshire | $64K | +6% | 320 |
| Nevada | $63K | +4% | 1,100 |
| Massachusetts | $63K | +4% | 7,440 |
| Wisconsin | $62K | +3% | 1,880 |
| Rhode Island | $61K | +1% | 800 |
| North Dakota | $61K | +1% | 240 |
| Michigan | $61K | +1% | 4,620 |
| Delaware | $60K | -0% | 510 |
| Wyoming | $59K | -2% | 200 |
| Arkansas | $59K | -3% | 1,040 |
| North Carolina | $58K | -3% | 3,690 |
| Maine | $57K | -5% | 1,860 |
| Alaska | $57K | -6% | 250 |
| Kansas | $56K | -7% | 1,620 |
| Hawaii | $54K | -10% | N/A |
| Idaho | $53K | -13% | 510 |
| Georgia | $52K | -14% | 1,330 |
| Florida | $52K | -14% | 5,150 |
| Utah | $51K | -16% | 1,240 |
| West Virginia | $50K | -17% | 420 |
| Illinois | $50K | -17% | 3,460 |
| Missouri | $50K | -18% | 1,640 |
| Mississippi | $49K | -19% | 920 |
| South Dakota | $49K | -19% | 230 |
| Iowa | $49K | -19% | 1,200 |
| Indiana | $48K | -20% | 2,490 |
| Pennsylvania | $48K | -20% | 3,500 |
| Louisiana | $47K | -22% | 970 |
| Texas | $47K | -23% | 8,220 |
| Tennessee | $47K | -23% | 2,220 |
| Arizona | $46K | -23% | 3,690 |
| Ohio | $46K | -24% | 6,050 |
| Montana | $45K | -25% | 740 |
| Nebraska | $43K | -28% | 900 |
| Oklahoma | $43K | -28% | 1,780 |
| Kentucky | $43K | -29% | 1,360 |
| Alabama | $42K | -31% | 740 |
| South Carolina | $40K | -34% | 720 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track mental health and substance abuse social workers salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a mental health and substance abuse social worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Utica-Rome?
Yes — at the median salary of $73K, rent takes 24.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,172/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for mental health and substance abuse social workers in Utica-Rome?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mental health and substance abuse social workers typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,828/month. At HUD’s $1,172/month FMR, rent would take 41% 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 Utica-Rome?
Local pay is 21% above the national median — $73K here vs. $60K nationally.
How does Utica-Rome compare to the national average for mental health and substance abuse social workers?
Utica-Rome pays $73K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s +21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.68), the purchasing-power equivalent is $79K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do mental health and substance abuse social workers make in Utica-Rome, NY?
The median is $73,200 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,140, and experienced mental health and substance abuse social workers can clear $96,270. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $73K enough to live in Utica-Rome?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,705/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,172/month, which eats 24.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a mental health and substance abuse social workers salary go in Utica-Rome?
Utica-Rome has a Regional Price Parity of 92.68 (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 $78,981 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.