Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary
The median pay for a mental health and substance abuse social workers in Wisconsin is $61,860/year ($29.74/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $88K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $65,578 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,202/month, or 29.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $62K get you in Wisconsin?
About mental health and substance abuse social workers
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Mental health and substance abuse social workers pay in Wisconsin tracks closely to the national median, $62K locally vs. $60K nationwide, a 3% difference. Rent runs $1,202/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Wisconsin
Entry-level mental health and substance abuse social workers (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $88K or more, a $42K spread from bottom to top.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary by metro in Wisconsin
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse-Onalaska | $67K | +8% | 30 |
| Madison | $64K | +3% | 220 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $63K | +1% | 600 |
| Appleton | $62K | +0% | 50 |
| Wausau | $62K | -0% | 150 |
| Janesville-Beloit | $61K | -2% | 30 |
| Eau Claire | $60K | -3% | 50 |
| Green Bay | $54K | -12% | 110 |
| Sheboygan | $54K | -12% | 30 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant | $50K | -19% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track mental health and substance abuse social workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a mental health and substance abuse social worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
Yes — at the median salary of $62K, rent takes 29.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/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 Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mental health and substance abuse social workers typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,726/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 44% 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 Wisconsin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $62K locally vs. $60K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for mental health and substance abuse social workers?
Wisconsin pays $62K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s +3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $66K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do mental health and substance abuse social workers make in Wisconsin?
The median is $61,860 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,430, and experienced mental health and substance abuse social workers can clear $87,690. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,126/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 29.1% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $65,578 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.