SalaryExplorer

SOC 21-1023 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social WorkersBrownsville

Brownsville-Harlingen, TX · 10 metro areas compared

$41,080 /year
$19.75per hour
200jobs in area
31.9%vs US median

At $41,080, this is one of the lower medians recorded for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers, 31.9% beneath the national figure of $60,280.

Wage distribution · annual

Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners

US MEDIAN $60,280MEDIAN$41,08075TH$47,11090TH$59,570

Salary overview

At $41,080, this is one of the lower medians recorded for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers, 31.9% beneath the national figure of $60,280. Pay ranges from under $41,080 at the tenth percentile to more than $59,570 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $41,080 to $47,110.

Employment stands at 200, or 1.3 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, San Angelo records the highest median at $66,770. Of the 311 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 180th.

Percentile breakdown

Annual wages by percentile · Brownsville-Harlingen, TX · May 2025
PercentileAnnualvs US median
10th$41,080−31.9%
25th$41,080−31.9%
Median (50th)$41,080−31.9%
75th$47,110−21.8%
90th$59,570−1.2%
Mean$47,280−21.6%

Other metro areas in Texas

Median annual wage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers, by metro area
#Metro areaMedianJobsRelative
1San Angelo$66,77050
2Wichita Falls$63,77040
3College Station$49,850130
4Houston$48,8801,160
5Austin$47,740860
6Dallas$47,3902,720
7Lubbock$46,55090
8San Antonio$45,930660
9Killeen$45,64090
10Beaumont$45,26030

What the pay is worth locally

Prices in Brownsville run 2.9% below the national average, so the median of $41,080 goes as far as $42,307 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 29.8% below the national median in real terms.

Published median

$41,080as reported by BLS

Local price level

97.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Adjusted for local prices

$42,307US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Key takeaways

  • Median pay is $41,080 a year, 31.9% below the national median.
  • Published pay spans $41,080 to $59,570 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
  • The area has 200 jobs in this occupation.
  • The highest-paying metro area covered is San Angelo, at $66,770.

Frequently asked questions

What is the median wage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Brownsville, TX?

The median annual wage is $41,080, or $19.75 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 Brownsville, TX is 31.9% 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 Brownsville, TX earns more than $59,570 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.

What is the starting range?

The tenth percentile wage is $41,080 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 San Angelo, at $66,770 per year.

How many jobs are there in this occupation here?

The survey estimates 200 jobs in this occupation in Brownsville, TX. 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.

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary in Brownsville, TX (2025): $41,080 Median | Salary Explorer