Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary in Ithaca, NY
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in the Ithaca, NY metro area earn a median of $78,220 a year ($37.61 an hour), based on BLS data for 70 workers.
Pay ranges from $62,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $101,580 for the top 10%. That is 30% higher than the national median of $60,280. Pay here is 1% lower than the New York statewide median of $79,380. There are 1.4 mental health and substance abuse social workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $85,820, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for mental health and substance abuse social workers in Ithaca, NY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,350 | $29.98 |
| 25th percentile | $75,990 | $36.53 |
| Median | $78,220 | $37.61 |
| 75th percentile | $94,580 | $45.47 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $101,580 | $48.84 |
| Average (mean) | $85,820 | $41.26 |
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 | $6,518.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,259.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,008.46 |
| Weekly | $1,504.23 |
| Hourly | $37.61 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $78,220 salary, see how much house you can afford in New York at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $82,450 | 12,090 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $79,870 | 410 |
| Elmira, NY | $79,410 | 50 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $76,970 | 530 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $73,200 | 190 |
| Kingston, NY | $71,790 | 120 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $71,710 | 110 |
| Syracuse, NY | $71,170 | 310 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $70,230 | 630 |
| Binghamton, NY | $68,940 | 160 |
| Rochester, NY | $68,880 | 730 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $64,660 | 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 or the New York statewide figures.
Related jobs in Ithaca, NY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Social and Human Service Assistants | $53,550 | $25.74 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $62,100 | $29.86 |
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | $65,010 | $31.26 |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | $75,860 | $36.47 |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $60,120 | $28.91 |
| Healthcare Social Worker | $62,570 | $30.08 |
| Social Workers, All Other | $79,940 | $38.43 |
| Health Education Specialist | $60,420 | $29.05 |
| Clergy | $58,750 | $28.25 |
More: Community and Social Service Occupations · all salaries in Ithaca, NY
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 Ithaca, NY?
The median salary for mental health and substance abuse social workers in the Ithaca, NY metro area is $78,220 a year, or $37.61 an hour. Pay ranges from $62,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $101,580 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid mental health and substance abuse social workers make in Ithaca, NY?
The top 10% of mental health and substance abuse social workers in the Ithaca, NY metro area earn at least $101,580 a year. The top 25% earn $94,580 or more.
What is the starting pay for mental health and substance abuse social workers in Ithaca, NY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $62,350 a year, and a quarter of mental health and substance abuse social workers earn $75,990 or less.
How many mental health and substance abuse social workers work in Ithaca, NY?
About 70 mental health and substance abuse social workers are employed in the Ithaca, NY metro area, not counting the self-employed.