SOC 21-1023 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers — Alabama
Alabama · 4 metro areas compared
Median pay in Alabama is $41,500 a year, 31.2% under the national median of $60,280 for this occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay in Alabama is $41,500 a year, 31.2% under the national median of $60,280 for this occupation. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $35,740 and $55,640. The lowest tenth earn under $29,370, while the highest tenth earn more than $64,750.
The area has 740 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.41 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Alabama ranks number 50th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Tuscaloosa records the highest median at $53,130. Of the 690 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 492nd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,370 | −51.3% |
| 25th | $35,740 | −40.7% |
| Median (50th) | $41,500 | −31.2% |
| 75th | $55,640 | −7.7% |
| 90th | $64,750 | +7.4% |
| Mean | $45,480 | −24.6% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Alabama
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tuscaloosa | $53,130 | 70 | |
| 2 | Montgomery | $42,910 | 50 | |
| 3 | Mobile | $38,970 | 50 | |
| 4 | Birmingham | $38,140 | 290 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Alabama run 11.2% below the national average, so the median of $41,500 goes as far as $46,734 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 22.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$41,500as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$46,734US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $41,500 a year, 31.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $29,370 to $64,750 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 740 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 50th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Tuscaloosa, at $53,130.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Alabama?
The median annual wage is $41,500, or $19.95 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $60,280, so pay in Alabama is 31.2% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Alabama earns more than $64,750 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $29,370 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Tuscaloosa, at $53,130 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 740 jobs in this occupation in Alabama. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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