What is the best state to be a mental health and substance abuse social workers?

By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Connecticut is the best state for a mental health and substance abuse social workers: a BLS median of $78,640 is worth $73,246 after the 2025 state income tax ($2,750) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 103.6), an index of 128.9 where the average state is 100.

Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?

Not necessarily. New York has the highest headline BLS median for a mental health and substance abuse social workers at $79,380, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #4 of 51 on real pay (index 123.3). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers

Best States to Be a Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers

After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a mental health and substance abuse social workers salary goes furthest in Connecticut — a $78,640 BLS median worth $73,246 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 128.9).

Which US states are best for a mental health and substance abuse social workers after cost of living and tax?

For a mental health and substance abuse social workers, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks Connecticut #1: a $78,640 BLS median becomes $73,246 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 128.9). South Carolina ranks last ($41,666, index 73.3). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 51 states; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

Connecticut ranks #1 of 51 states for a mental health and substance abuse social workers. Index 100 = the average state; 128.9 means pay goes 28.9% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

128.9

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers — real pay by state (best first)

#	State	BLS median	State tax	Cost (RPP)	Real pay	Index
1	Connecticut	$78,640	$2,750	103.6	$73,246	128.9
2	Minnesota	$75,020	$3,612	98.6	$72,406	127.4
3	Vermont	$73,210	$2,450	98.0	$72,235	127.1
4	New York	$79,380	$3,761	107.9	$70,069	123.3
5	New Mexico	$65,640	$1,971	92.2	$69,046	121.5
6	North Dakota	$60,980	—	89.0	$68,548	120.6
7	California	$79,000	$3,225	110.7	$68,438	120.4
8	Maryland	$73,580	$3,162	105.0	$67,091	118.1
9	Washington	$70,460	—	107.0	$65,842	115.9
10	Arkansas	$58,590	$2,077	86.9	$65,005	114.4
11	Wyoming	$59,310	—	92.7	$63,987	112.6
12	District of Columbia	$73,310	$3,390	109.9	$63,621	111.9
13	Wisconsin	$61,860	$2,126	94.1	$63,482	111.7
14	Nevada	$62,900	—	100.0	$62,913	110.7
15	Colorado	$65,620	$2,227	103.1	$61,515	108.2
16	New Hampshire	$63,900	—	104.2	$61,345	107.9
17	Oregon	$68,210	$5,164	103.4	$60,996	107.3
18	Michigan	$60,830	$2,339	96.2	$60,791	107.0
19	Virginia	$64,240	$2,894	101.1	$60,676	106.8
20	Kansas	$56,330	$2,344	90.1	$59,940	105.5
21	North Carolina	$58,210	$1,932	94.3	$59,663	105.0
22	New Jersey	$66,590	$2,131	108.8	$59,242	104.2
23	Rhode Island	$60,990	$1,687	102.3	$57,981	102.0
24	Delaware	$60,060	$2,656	99.8	$57,514	101.2
25	Maine	$57,050	$2,236	97.0	$56,480	99.4
26	Massachusetts	$62,500	$2,905	105.8	$56,351	99.2
27	Alaska	$56,710	—	102.4	$55,403	97.5
28	South Dakota	$48,920	—	88.6	$55,223	97.2
29	Mississippi	$48,970	$1,349	87.0	$54,766	96.4
30	West Virginia	$50,070	$1,524	89.5	$54,243	95.4
31	Iowa	$48,530	$1,804	87.8	$53,242	93.7
32	Idaho	$52,520	$1,871	95.5	$53,039	93.3
33	Missouri	$49,560	$1,448	90.8	$52,976	93.2
34	Louisiana	$47,100	$1,038	88.2	$52,220	91.9
35	Georgia	$52,030	$2,158	96.3	$51,792	91.1
36	Tennessee	$46,500	—	91.9	$50,615	89.1
37	Indiana	$48,300	$1,419	93.3	$50,232	88.4
38	Florida	$51,590	—	103.4	$49,887	87.8
39	Ohio	$46,080	$485	92.8	$49,147	86.5
40	Utah	$50,770	$2,310	98.9	$49,017	86.3
41	Texas	$46,630	—	97.1	$48,044	84.5
42	Pennsylvania	$48,290	$1,483	97.6	$47,972	84.4
43	Illinois	$49,960	$2,332	100.0	$47,648	83.8
44	Oklahoma	$43,120	$1,511	87.8	$47,368	83.3
45	Hawaii	$54,390	$2,603	110.0	$47,100	82.9
46	Nebraska	$43,240	$1,160	90.1	$46,702	82.2
47	Montana	$45,160	$1,526	94.6	$46,103	81.1
48	Kentucky	$42,570	$1,572	90.2	$45,473	80.0
49	Arizona	$46,380	$685	100.7	$45,388	79.9
50	Alabama	$41,500	$1,810	88.8	$44,684	78.6
51	South Carolina	$39,930	$868	93.7	$41,666	73.3

"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 51 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In Connecticut, a $78,640 salary is worth about $70,595 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $5,497 (≈ top marginal 6.99% (upper bound)) · take-home $73,143 · BEA cost of living 103.6 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $88,772, a $18,178 gain over Connecticut.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$88,772	88.6
2	Arkansas	$86,929	86.9
3	Louisiana	$86,479	88.2
4	Mississippi	$86,460	87.0
5	Iowa	$86,201	87.8
6	North Dakota	$86,190	89.0
7	Tennessee	$85,599	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$85,271	87.8
9	Wyoming	$84,841	92.7
10	Alabama	$84,109	88.8
11	Kentucky	$83,735	90.2
12	West Virginia	$83,634	89.5

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Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers — real pay FAQ

What is the best state to be a mental health and substance abuse social workers?: By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Connecticut is the best state for a mental health and substance abuse social workers: a BLS median of $78,640 is worth $73,246 after the 2025 state income tax ($2,750) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 103.6), an index of 128.9 where the average state is 100.
Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?: Not necessarily. New York has the highest headline BLS median for a mental health and substance abuse social workers at $79,380, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #4 of 51 on real pay (index 123.3). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
Where does a mental health and substance abuse social workers salary go least far?: South Carolina ranks last of 51 states for a mental health and substance abuse social workers: a $39,930 BLS median is worth only $41,666 after tax and cost of living (index 73.3). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a mental health and substance abuse social workers is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.