Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary in Florida
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Florida earn a median of $51,590 a year ($24.80 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,150 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,610 for the top 10%. That is 14% lower than the national median of $60,280. Florida ranks 31st of 51 states for mental health and substance abuse social workers pay. There are 0.52 mental health and substance abuse social workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.61). The average (mean) salary is $55,310, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for mental health and substance abuse social workers in Florida
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,180 | $18.36 |
| 25th percentile | $44,450 | $21.37 |
| Median | $51,590 | $24.80 |
| 75th percentile | $62,050 | $29.83 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,610 | $37.31 |
| Average (mean) | $55,310 | $26.59 |
Half of mental health and substance abuse social workers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,299.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,149.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,984.23 |
| Weekly | $992.12 |
| Hourly | $24.80 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $51,590 salary, see how much house you can afford in Florida at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary in cities in Florida
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | $56,860 | 80 |
| Gainesville, FL | $55,500 | 130 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $55,190 | 80 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $54,420 | 360 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $53,650 | 80 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $53,400 | 130 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $53,330 | 110 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $53,300 | 190 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $52,730 | 930 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $51,510 | 1,370 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $50,720 | 120 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $49,940 | 570 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $48,010 | 150 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $47,630 | 190 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $46,630 | 60 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $43,490 | 100 |
| Ocala, FL | $43,400 | 70 |
Highest-paying states for mental health and substance abuse social workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $79,380 |
| California | $79,000 |
| Connecticut | $78,640 |
| Minnesota | $75,020 |
| Maryland | $73,580 |
| District of Columbia | $73,310 |
| Vermont | $73,210 |
| Washington | $70,460 |
| Oregon | $68,210 |
| New Jersey | $66,590 |
See Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers pay in every state.
Related jobs in Florida
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | $56,790 | $27.30 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $53,140 | $25.55 |
| Social and Human Service Assistants | $44,410 | $21.35 |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $56,550 | $27.19 |
| Healthcare Social Worker | $64,820 | $31.16 |
| Social Workers, All Other | $58,550 | $28.15 |
| Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists | $50,960 | $24.50 |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | $50,440 | $24.25 |
| Rehabilitation Counselor | $45,990 | $22.11 |
| Counselors, All Other | $45,880 | $22.06 |
| Community Health Worker | $45,420 | $21.84 |
| Marriage and Family Therapists | $56,400 | $27.12 |
| Health Education Specialist | $46,360 | $22.29 |
| Clergy | $56,940 | $27.38 |
More: Community and Social Service Occupations · all salaries in Florida
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 21-1023. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mental health and substance abuse social workers make in Florida?
The median salary for mental health and substance abuse social workers in Florida is $51,590 a year, or $24.80 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,610 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid mental health and substance abuse social workers make in Florida?
The top 10% of mental health and substance abuse social workers in Florida earn at least $77,610 a year. The top 25% earn $62,050 or more.
What is the starting pay for mental health and substance abuse social workers in Florida?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,180 a year, and a quarter of mental health and substance abuse social workers earn $44,450 or less.
How many mental health and substance abuse social workers work in Florida?
About 5,150 mental health and substance abuse social workers are employed in Florida, not counting the self-employed.