SOC 21-1023 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers — Rochester
Rochester, NY · 10 metro areas compared
In Rochester, NY the median wage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers is $68,880 a year, which is 14.3% higher than the national figure of $60,280.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Rochester, NY the median wage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers is $68,880 a year, which is 14.3% higher than the national figure of $60,280. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $52,930 and $76,430. The lowest tenth earn under $40,030, while the highest tenth earn more than $89,970.
The area has 730 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.72 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, New York records the highest median at $82,450. Of the 562 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 222nd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $40,030 | −33.6% |
| 25th | $52,930 | −12.2% |
| Median (50th) | $68,880 | +14.3% |
| 75th | $76,430 | +26.8% |
| 90th | $89,970 | +49.3% |
| Mean | $68,700 | +14.0% |
Other metro areas in New York
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $82,450 | 12,090 | |
| 2 | Kiryas Joel | $79,870 | 410 | |
| 3 | Elmira | $79,410 | 50 | |
| 4 | Ithaca | $78,220 | 70 | |
| 5 | Albany | $76,970 | 530 | |
| 6 | Utica | $73,200 | 190 | |
| 7 | Kingston | $71,790 | 120 | |
| 8 | Glens Falls | $71,710 | 110 | |
| 9 | Syracuse | $71,170 | 310 | |
| 10 | Buffalo | $70,230 | 630 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Rochester run 7.9% above the national average, so the median of $68,880 buys what $63,837 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 5.9% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$68,880as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$63,837US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $68,880 a year, 14.3% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $40,030 to $89,970 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 730 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is New York, at $82,450.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Rochester, NY?
The median annual wage is $68,880, or $33.12 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 Rochester, NY is 14.3% 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 Rochester, NY earns more than $89,970 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $40,030 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 New York, at $82,450 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 730 jobs in this occupation in Rochester, NY. 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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