How much does behavioral-health and substance-use support specialist make?
The exact figures below come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025) for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers (SOC 21-1023), the category this role is reported under. The spread is wide because most jobs are government or nonprofit, so pay is driven by state budgets and cost of living.
| Percentile | Annual wage | Typical context |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $39,740 | Entry-level; lower-wage states and small nonprofits |
| 25th | $47,070 | Early-career, smaller agencies |
| 50th (median) | $60,280 | BLS OEWS May 2025 national median |
| 75th | $79,730 | Experienced workers, higher-wage states |
| 90th | $104,170 | Supervisors, managers, and high-cost metros |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, national figures, via O*NET 21-1023.00. All percentile figures are exact BLS values.
How much do Behavioral-Health and Substance-Use Specialists make by setting type?
The ranges below are estimates grounded in the BLS distribution for this category and vary with location and employer.
| Setting | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Community mental-health centers | $40,000-$60,000 | Case management and group facilitation at the bachelor level |
| Substance-use and recovery programs | $38,000-$58,000 | A state substance-use counselor certification can raise pay |
| Crisis and stabilization services | $42,000-$62,000 | Shift differentials for nights, weekends, and on-call coverage |
| Residential and supportive housing | $38,000-$55,000 | Recovery support and milieu work; often nonprofit and PSLF-eligible |
Behavioral-Health and Substance-Use Support Specialist salary by state
Geographic variation is among the widest factors in this field. Per BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates, the highest median wages cluster in the Northeast and on the West Coast, while the lowest are in the rural South and Mountain West.
Highest-paying states (median)
- New York $79,380
- California $79,000
- Connecticut $78,640
- Minnesota $75,020
- Maryland $73,580
- District of Columbia $73,310
- Vermont $73,210
Lowest-paying states (median)
- Montana $45,160
- Nebraska $43,240
- Oklahoma $43,120
- Kentucky $42,570
- Alabama $41,500
- South Carolina $39,930
Find accredited programs in each state on our state-by-state BSW rankings.
Behavioral-Health and Substance-Use Support Specialist salary by experience
| Career stage | Typical tenure | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Support specialist (BSW) | 0-2 years | $38,000-$48,000 | Case management and recovery support under clinical supervision |
| Behavioral-health case manager | 2-5 years | $46,000-$60,000 | Independent caseload, around the BLS median |
| Licensed clinician (MSW) | 5-8 years | $60,000-$85,000 | Diagnosis and therapy require a master's and clinical license |
| Clinical supervisor | 8+ years | $78,000-$104,000 | Toward the 90th percentile for clinical social workers |
What affects Behavioral-Health and Substance-Use Support Specialist pay most?
Licensure level
The jump from a bachelor-level support role to a licensed clinician is the largest pay step, and it requires an MSW and clinical license.
Specialty certification
A state substance-use counselor credential can raise pay even at the bachelor level.
Setting and shift
Crisis and inpatient settings pay shift differentials that outpatient roles do not.
Demand
Mental-health and substance-use social work is among the fastest-growing categories, which supports wages.
Region
High-cost metros and states with strong behavioral-health funding pay well above the median.
The clearest path to the top of this range runs through a master's degree. BestMSWPrograms.org can provide more information on both in-person and online MSW programs in the US.
See where bachelor-level licensure raises your pay classification on our credentials page.
How Behavioral-Health and Substance-Use Support Specialist salary compares to other BSW careers
| Career | BLS category (SOC) | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Medical or Hospital Social Worker | 21-1022 | $67,880 |
| Behavioral-Health and Substance-Use Support Specialist ← you are here | 21-1023 | $60,280 |
| Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW) | 21-1021 | $59,550 |
| School Social Worker | 21-1021 | $59,550 |
| Child, Family, and Child-Welfare Caseworker | 21-1021 | $59,550 |
| Case Manager and Care Coordinator | 21-1093 | $45,930 |
| Community and Social-Service Worker | 21-1093 | $45,930 |
| Aging, Disability, and Veterans' Services Worker | 21-1093 | $45,930 |
| Social and Human-Service Assistant | 21-1093 | $45,930 |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Several roles share a BLS occupation, so their reported medians match.
Sources
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025)
- O*NET OnLine 21-1023.00
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Community and Social Service
Last refreshed 2026-06-08. Exact wages reflect the BLS OEWS May 2025 release; setting and experience ranges are estimates grounded in that distribution.