SOC 21-1023 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers — Florida
Florida · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Florida is $51,590 per year, 14.4% 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 Florida is $51,590 per year, 14.4% below the national median of $60,280. Half of workers earn between $44,450 and $62,050. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $38,180 and the ninetieth at $77,610.
The area has 5,150 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.5 of every thousand jobs. Florida ranks number 31st out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Naples records the highest median at $56,860. Of the 777 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 422nd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,180 | −36.7% |
| 25th | $44,450 | −26.3% |
| Median (50th) | $51,590 | −14.4% |
| 75th | $62,050 | +2.9% |
| 90th | $77,610 | +28.7% |
| Mean | $55,310 | −8.2% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Florida
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Naples | $56,860 | 80 | |
| 2 | Gainesville | $55,500 | 130 | |
| 3 | Lakeland | $55,190 | 80 | |
| 4 | Jacksonville | $54,420 | 360 | |
| 5 | Panama City | $53,650 | 80 | |
| 6 | Tallahassee | $53,400 | 130 | |
| 7 | Palm Bay | $53,330 | 110 | |
| 8 | North Port | $53,300 | 190 | |
| 9 | Tampa | $52,730 | 930 | |
| 10 | Miami | $51,510 | 1,370 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Florida run 3.4% above the national average, so the median of $51,590 buys what $49,894 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 17.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$51,590as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$49,894US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $51,590 a year, 14.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $38,180 to $77,610 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 5,150 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 31st of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Naples, at $56,860.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Florida?
The median annual wage is $51,590, or $24.80 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 Florida is 14.4% 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 Florida earns more than $77,610 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $38,180 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 Naples, at $56,860 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 5,150 jobs in this occupation in Florida. 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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