SalaryExplorer

SOC 21-1023 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social WorkersSoutheast Missouri

Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area · 6 metro areas compared

$53,670 /year
$25.80per hour
160jobs in area
11.0%vs US median

The median wage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Southeast Missouri, MO is $53,670 per year, 11.0% below the national median of $60,280.

Wage distribution · annual

Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners

US MEDIAN $60,28010TH$41,01025TH$44,750MEDIAN$53,67075TH$61,50090TH$66,900

Salary overview

The median wage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Southeast Missouri, MO is $53,670 per year, 11.0% below the national median of $60,280. Pay ranges from under $41,010 at the tenth percentile to more than $66,900 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $44,750 to $61,500.

The area has 160 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 1.0 of every thousand jobs. Kansas City leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $58,320. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 122nd of 344 by median pay.

Percentile breakdown

Annual wages by percentile · Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area · May 2025
PercentileAnnualvs US median
10th$41,010−32.0%
25th$44,750−25.8%
Median (50th)$53,670−11.0%
75th$61,500+2.0%
90th$66,900+11.0%
Mean$53,540−11.2%

Other metro areas in Missouri

Median annual wage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers, by metro area
#Metro areaMedianJobsRelative
1Kansas City$58,320960
2Columbia$54,14060
3Jefferson City$50,17050
4St. Louis$49,520820
5Springfield$47,370100
6Joplin$44,420120

What the pay is worth locally

Prices in Southeast Missouri run 9.2% below the national average, so the median of $53,670 goes as far as $59,108 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 1.9% below the national median in real terms.

Published median

$53,670as reported by BLS

Local price level

90.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Adjusted for local prices

$59,108US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Key takeaways

  • Median pay is $53,670 a year, 11.0% below the national median.
  • Published pay spans $41,010 to $66,900 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
  • The area has 160 jobs in this occupation.
  • The highest-paying metro area covered is Kansas City, at $58,320.

Frequently asked questions

What is the median wage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Southeast Missouri, MO?

The median annual wage is $53,670, or $25.80 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 Southeast Missouri, MO is 11.0% 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 Southeast Missouri, MO earns more than $66,900 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.

What is the starting range?

The tenth percentile wage is $41,010 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 Kansas City, at $58,320 per year.

How many jobs are there in this occupation here?

The survey estimates 160 jobs in this occupation in Southeast Missouri, MO. 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 Southeast Missouri, MO (2025): $53,670 Median | Salary Explorer