SOC 21-1023 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers — Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Cincinnati, OH is $45,390 per year, 24.7% below the national median of $60,280.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Cincinnati, OH is $45,390 per year, 24.7% below the national median of $60,280. Half of workers earn between $38,170 and $51,030. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $35,050 and the ninetieth at $72,330.
Employment stands at 970, or 0.9 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Sandusky records the highest median at $57,470. Of the 647 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 496th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,050 | −41.9% |
| 25th | $38,170 | −36.7% |
| Median (50th) | $45,390 | −24.7% |
| 75th | $51,030 | −15.3% |
| 90th | $72,330 | +20.0% |
| Mean | $48,900 | −18.9% |
Other metro areas in Ohio
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Cincinnati run 7.2% below the national average, so the median of $45,390 goes as far as $48,912 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 18.9% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$45,390as reported by BLSLocal price level
92.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$48,912US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $45,390 a year, 24.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $35,050 to $72,330 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 970 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Sandusky, at $57,470.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Cincinnati, OH?
The median annual wage is $45,390, or $21.82 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 Cincinnati, OH is 24.7% 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 Cincinnati, OH earns more than $72,330 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $35,050 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 Sandusky, at $57,470 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 970 jobs in this occupation in Cincinnati, OH. 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.
Explore related data