SOC 21-1023 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers — St. Louis
St. Louis, MO-IL · 5 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in St.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in St. Louis, MO is $49,520 a year, trailing the national median of $60,280 by 17.9%. Half of workers earn between $43,420 and $59,550. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $37,270 and the ninetieth at $72,800.
The area has 820 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.72 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. 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 437th of 652 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,270 | −38.2% |
| 25th | $43,420 | −28.0% |
| Median (50th) | $49,520 | −17.9% |
| 75th | $59,550 | −1.2% |
| 90th | $72,800 | +20.8% |
| Mean | $52,930 | −12.2% |
Other metro areas in Missouri
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas City | $58,320 | 960 | |
| 2 | Columbia | $54,140 | 60 | |
| 3 | Jefferson City | $50,170 | 50 | |
| 4 | Springfield | $47,370 | 100 | |
| 5 | Joplin | $44,420 | 120 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in St. Louis run 9.2% below the national average, so the median of $49,520 goes as far as $54,537 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 9.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$49,520as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$54,537US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $49,520 a year, 17.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $37,270 to $72,800 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 820 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 St. Louis, MO?
The median annual wage is $49,520, or $23.81 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 St. Louis, MO is 17.9% 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 St. Louis, MO earns more than $72,800 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $37,270 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 820 jobs in this occupation in St. Louis, 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.
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