SOC 21-1023 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers — Arizona
Arizona · 4 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Arizona is $46,380 a year, trailing the national median of $60,280 by 23.1%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Arizona is $46,380 a year, trailing the national median of $60,280 by 23.1%. Half of workers earn between $45,010 and $54,480. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $40,810 and the ninetieth at $64,350.
The area has 3,690 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.33 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Arizona ranks 44th by median wage. Prescott Valley leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $50,020. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 535th of 712 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $40,810 | −32.3% |
| 25th | $45,010 | −25.3% |
| Median (50th) | $46,380 | −23.1% |
| 75th | $54,480 | −9.6% |
| 90th | $64,350 | +6.8% |
| Mean | $50,630 | −16.0% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Arizona
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prescott Valley | $50,020 | 110 | |
| 2 | Flagstaff | $48,410 | 40 | |
| 3 | Tucson | $48,370 | 510 | |
| 4 | Phoenix | $46,340 | 2,870 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Arizona sit close to the national average, so $46,380 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$46,380as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$46,058US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $46,380 a year, 23.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $40,810 to $64,350 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 3,690 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 44th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Prescott Valley, at $50,020.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Arizona?
The median annual wage is $46,380, or $22.30 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 Arizona is 23.1% 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 Arizona earns more than $64,350 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $40,810 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 Prescott Valley, at $50,020 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 3,690 jobs in this occupation in Arizona. 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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