SOC 21-1023 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers — Boulder
Boulder, CO · 6 metro areas compared
In Boulder, CO the median wage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers reaches $84,450 a year.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Boulder, CO the median wage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers reaches $84,450 a year. That is 40.1% more than the national median of $60,280. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $72,240 and $98,520. The lowest tenth earn under $48,370, while the highest tenth earn more than $122,510.
The area has 70 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.40 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Grand Junction leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $80,030. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 133rd of 414 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48,370 | −19.8% |
| 25th | $72,240 | +19.8% |
| Median (50th) | $84,450 | +40.1% |
| 75th | $98,520 | +63.4% |
| 90th | $122,510 | +103.2% |
| Mean | $86,740 | +43.9% |
Other metro areas in Colorado
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grand Junction | $80,030 | 30 | |
| 2 | Denver | $70,920 | 900 | |
| 3 | Fort Collins | $68,020 | 110 | |
| 4 | Pueblo | $65,620 | 200 | |
| 5 | Colorado Springs | $63,860 | 140 | |
| 6 | Greeley | $49,510 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Boulder run 3.1% above the national average, so the median of $84,450 buys what $81,911 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 35.9% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$84,450as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$81,911US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $84,450 a year, 40.1% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $48,370 to $122,510 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 70 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Grand Junction, at $80,030.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Boulder, CO?
The median annual wage is $84,450, or $40.60 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 Boulder, CO is 40.1% higher. 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 Boulder, CO earns more than $122,510 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $48,370 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 Grand Junction, at $80,030 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 70 jobs in this occupation in Boulder, CO. 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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