SOC 21-1023 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers — Mississippi
Mississippi · 3 metro areas compared
The median wage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Mississippi is $48,970 per year, 18.8% 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 Mississippi is $48,970 per year, 18.8% below the national median of $60,280. Pay ranges from under $25,880 at the tenth percentile to more than $78,920 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $33,700 to $62,520.
Employment stands at 920, or 0.8 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Mississippi ranks 36th by median wage. Gulfport leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $62,520. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 338th of 673 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $25,880 | −57.1% |
| 25th | $33,700 | −44.1% |
| Median (50th) | $48,970 | −18.8% |
| 75th | $62,520 | +3.7% |
| 90th | $78,920 | +30.9% |
| Mean | $50,750 | −15.8% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Mississippi
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gulfport | $62,520 | 70 | |
| 2 | Hattiesburg | $53,870 | 30 | |
| 3 | Jackson | $48,610 | 250 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Mississippi run 13.0% below the national average, so the median of $48,970 goes as far as $56,287 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 6.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$48,970as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$56,287US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $48,970 a year, 18.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $25,880 to $78,920 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 920 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 36th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Gulfport, at $62,520.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Mississippi?
The median annual wage is $48,970, or $23.55 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 Mississippi is 18.8% 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 Mississippi earns more than $78,920 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $25,880 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 Gulfport, at $62,520 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 920 jobs in this occupation in Mississippi. 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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