Mental Health Social Worker Training and Jobs
Schools and Degrees
Courses in psychology or sociology to learn about human development and emotions are helpful. A bachelor’s degree in social work is the most common way to qualify as a social worker, but advanced degrees have become standard for many positions. A master’s degree in social work is necessary for positions in health settings and for clinical work. College and university teaching positions and most research appointments normally require a doctorate in social work. The Council on Social Work Education accredited 458 bachelor’s programs and 181 master’s programs as of 2006. The Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education listed 74 doctoral programs in social work in the United States.
Training and Education
Education or job training for employees typically involves a master's degree. At least 77% of mental health social workers had a degree of four or more years. About 16% of workers had some college below a bachelor's degree. An estimated 7% of employees had just a high-school diploma.
Job Overview
Mental health social worker assess and treat people with mental illness with the help of individual and group therapy, outreach, crisis intervention, social rehabilitation and teaching skills. They also offer supportive services to clients so they can return to their community easily. They work in hospitals, mental health treatment centers, individual and family services agencies or local governments.
Job Requirements
A mental health social worker should have experience counseling people with various backgrounds and problems, while they are required to refer people to services and programs, keep records and complete large amounts of paperwork and work with other professionals. They need to have healthy lifestyles so they can handle the stress of caring for many other people who face very difficult problems. Licensing, certification is required by every U.S. State. This entails 2 years or 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience.
Nature of Work
They often work in offices talking with clients, making phone calls and doing paperwork. They also visit clients at other locations and attend meetings. Though the work is very satisfying, it can be challenging as well, as understaffing and large workloads add to the pressure. Full-time mental health social workers generally work an average 40-hour week, but some occasionally work evenings and weekends to meet with clients, attend community meetings and handle emergencies. Some of them work part time, particularly in voluntary nonprofit agencies.
Area Job Conditions
The cities with the most mental health social workers per capita are San Angelo (Texas), Taunton (Massachusetts), and New Bedford (Massachusetts), while the worst cities are Lakeland (Florida), Palm Bay (Florida), and Ogden (Utah).
The highest salaries for workers are in and around Rochester (Minnesota), Edison (New Jersey), and Vallejo (California). The lowest-paying areas are Danville (Illinois), Columbia (Missouri), and Austin (Texas).
Part-Time and Self Employment
An estimated 9% of mental health social workers work part-time. An estimated 3% of workers were self-employed.
Career Videos
Mental Health Social Workers by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Alabama
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $35,000 | 220 | -48% |
| Decatur | $28,000 | 90 | +122% |
| Dothan | $38,000 | 40 | -10% |
| Huntsville | $30,000 | 120 | -31% |
| Mobile | $29,000 | 110 | -24% |
| Montgomery | $34,000 | 130 | -3% |
| Tuscaloosa | $38,000 | 60 | -16% |
Alaska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $45,000 | 410 | +197% |
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingman | $39,000 | 40 | +13% |
| Phoenix | $42,000 | 1,860 | +22% |
| Tucson | $34,000 | 750 | +158% |
Arkansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville | $37,000 | 130 | -23% |
| Fort Smith | $41,000 | 60 | -40% |
| Little Rock | $48,000 | 210 | -29% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | $54,000 | 90 | -59% |
| Fresno | $45,000 | 250 | -8% |
| Los Angeles | $47,000 | 4,060 | +16% |
| Merced | $31,000 | 60 | +39% |
| Modesto | $55,000 | 240 | +88% |
| Oakland | $55,000 | 790 | -8% |
| Oxnard | $55,000 | 300 | +19% |
| Redding | 90 | +96% | |
| Riverside | $45,000 | 710 | -32% |
| Sacramento | $43,000 | 580 | -22% |
| Salinas | $44,000 | 80 | -39% |
| San Diego | $43,000 | 700 | -38% |
| San Francisco | $48,000 | 640 | -25% |
| San Jose | $47,000 | 260 | -66% |
| Santa Ana | $44,000 | 540 | -57% |
| Santa Barbara | $53,000 | 60 | -57% |
| Santa Cruz | 220 | +220% | |
| Santa Rosa | $46,000 | 70 | -51% |
| Stockton | $51,000 | 80 | -54% |
Colorado
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $39,000 | 80 | -36% |
| Colorado Springs | $47,000 | 110 | -48% |
| Denver | $35,000 | 1,410 | +31% |
| Fort Collins | $35,000 | 130 | +27% |
| Grand Junction | $32,000 | 40 | -8% |
| Pueblo | $40,000 | 230 | +431% |
Connecticut
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | $55,000 | 460 | +26% |
| Danbury | $62,000 | 50 | -5% |
| Hartford | $53,000 | 1,200 | +143% |
| New Haven | $45,000 | 600 | +161% |
| Norwich | $57,000 | 170 | +71% |
| Waterbury | $54,000 | 120 | +129% |
Delaware
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $40,000 | 410 | +49% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $57,000 | 1,580 | -25% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deltona | $33,000 | 220 | +74% |
| Fort Lauderdale | $40,000 | 550 | -8% |
| Gainesville | $35,000 | 110 | +12% |
| Jacksonville | $35,000 | 350 | -32% |
| Lakeland | $39,000 | 110 | -30% |
| Miami | $36,000 | 580 | -31% |
| Naples | $42,000 | 40 | -56% |
| Ocala | $39,000 | 60 | -14% |
| Orlando | $36,000 | 590 | -33% |
| Palm Bay | $33,000 | 150 | -9% |
| Pensacola | $30,000 | 100 | -18% |
| Port St Lucie | $41,000 | 80 | -17% |
| Sarasota | $37,000 | 50 | -76% |
| Tallahassee | $35,000 | 280 | +111% |
| Tampa | $33,000 | 470 | -52% |
| West Palm Beach | $34,000 | 630 | +42% |
Georgia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $27,000 | 40 | -16% |
| Atlanta | $47,000 | 600 | -70% |
| Macon | 50 | -30% | |
| Savannah | $28,000 | 40 | -67% |
Hawaii
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | $47,000 | 410 | +9% |
Idaho
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | $39,000 | 570 | +159% |
| Idaho Falls | $37,000 | 70 | +100% |
| Lewiston | $39,000 | 40 | +149% |
| Pocatello | $32,000 | 190 | +783% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Champaign | $29,000 | 250 | +205% |
| Chicago | $42,000 | 2,870 | -12% |
| Danville | $27,000 | 100 | +419% |
| Kankakee | $38,000 | 60 | +98% |
| Peoria | $30,000 | 100 | -29% |
| Rockford | $36,000 | 60 | -48% |
| Springfield | $31,000 | 70 | -19% |
Indiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington | $34,000 | 40 | -26% |
| Elkhart | $37,000 | 50 | -42% |
| Evansville | $32,000 | 230 | +62% |
| Fort Wayne | $34,000 | 120 | -29% |
| Gary | $37,000 | 240 | +6% |
| Indianapolis | $41,000 | 390 | -49% |
| Michigan City | $36,000 | 60 | +98% |
| Muncie | $38,000 | 80 | +136% |
| South Bend | $36,000 | 90 | -14% |
Iowa
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids | $40,000 | 40 | -65% |
| Davenport | $31,000 | 120 | -23% |
| Des Moines | $36,000 | 490 | +75% |
| Dubuque | $38,000 | 60 | +48% |
| Iowa City | $37,000 | 30 | -45% |
| Sioux City | $31,000 | 220 | +288% |
| Waterloo | $39,000 | 140 | +107% |
Kansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita | $42,000 | 190 | -22% |
Kentucky
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | $33,000 | 270 | +34% |
| Louisville | $41,000 | 460 | -12% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $44,000 | 200 | -37% |
| Houma | $33,000 | 120 | +59% |
| Lafayette | $43,000 | 110 | -6% |
| Lake Charles | $39,000 | 60 | -14% |
| New Orleans | $39,000 | 350 | -23% |
| Shreveport | $45,000 | 180 | +21% |
Maine
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor | $43,000 | 350 | +644% |
| Lewiston | $39,000 | 230 | +505% |
| Portland | $45,000 | 380 | +127% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $51,000 | 1,080 | -5% |
| Bethesda | $45,000 | 440 | -11% |
| Hagerstown | $46,000 | 140 | +81% |
Massachusetts
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town | $55,000 | 90 | +13% |
| Boston | $51,000 | 1,700 | +13% |
| Brockton | $36,000 | 200 | +180% |
| Framingham | $46,000 | 50 | -63% |
| Haverhill | $37,000 | 40 | -38% |
| Lawrence | $43,000 | 130 | +184% |
| Leominster | $35,000 | 80 | +115% |
| Lowell | $37,000 | 240 | +146% |
| New Bedford | $33,000 | 480 | +860% |
| Peabody | $40,000 | 320 | +292% |
| Pittsfield | $35,000 | 60 | +158% |
| Springfield | $43,000 | 460 | +82% |
| Worcester | $37,000 | 430 | +103% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $44,000 | 340 | +146% |
| Detroit | $39,000 | 1,190 | +107% |
| Flint | $41,000 | 140 | +32% |
| Grand Rapids | $42,000 | 550 | +71% |
| Kalamazoo | $38,000 | 210 | +89% |
| Lansing | $47,000 | 100 | -40% |
| Saginaw | 120 | +86% | |
| Warren | $42,000 | 1,020 | +10% |
Minnesota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth | $53,000 | 120 | +13% |
| Minneapolis | $46,000 | 1,410 | -8% |
| St Cloud | $49,000 | 50 | -35% |
Mississippi
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport | $38,000 | 50 | -42% |
| Jackson | $33,000 | 310 | +45% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $24,000 | 120 | +90% |
| Jefferson City | $39,000 | 130 | +125% |
| Joplin | $34,000 | 70 | +13% |
| Kansas City | $32,000 | 1,180 | +35% |
| Springfield | $29,000 | 270 | +70% |
| St Joseph | $36,000 | 100 | +160% |
| St Louis | $36,000 | 1,060 | -8% |
Montana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Falls | $42,000 | 50 | +87% |
| Missoula | $32,000 | 80 | +102% |
Nebraska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | $40,000 | 260 | +97% |
| Omaha | $39,000 | 220 | -45% |
Nevada
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | $45,000 | 290 | -60% |
| Reno | $53,000 | 80 | -50% |
New Hampshire
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | $44,000 | 50 | -40% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camden | $57,000 | 250 | -44% |
| Edison | $50,000 | 310 | -65% |
| Newark | $58,000 | 240 | -72% |
| Trenton | $60,000 | 190 | 0% |
| Vineland | $55,000 | 50 | +9% |
New Mexico
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $41,000 | 900 | +174% |
| Farmington | $33,000 | 30 | -20% |
| Santa Fe | $46,000 | 50 | +5% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $52,000 | 570 | +48% |
| Binghamton | $43,000 | 100 | +10% |
| Buffalo | $40,000 | 480 | +1% |
| Elmira | $46,000 | 150 | +437% |
| Glens Falls | $39,000 | 40 | +1% |
| Ithaca | $50,000 | 40 | +32% |
| Kingston | $49,000 | 50 | +8% |
| Nassau | $50,000 | 1,030 | -6% |
| New York | $51,000 | 7,000 | +55% |
| Poughkeepsie | $47,000 | 170 | -18% |
| Rochester | $38,000 | 500 | +15% |
| Syracuse | $48,000 | 280 | +5% |
| Utica | $58,000 | 220 | +117% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville | $38,000 | 90 | -39% |
| Burlington | $44,000 | 40 | -8% |
| Charlotte | $42,000 | 870 | +18% |
| Durham | $43,000 | 320 | +37% |
| Fayetteville | $44,000 | 210 | +104% |
| Goldsboro | $53,000 | 130 | +336% |
| Greensboro | $43,000 | 300 | -1% |
| Greenville | $39,000 | 130 | +148% |
| Hickory | $41,000 | 210 | +74% |
| Jacksonville | $43,000 | 100 | +217% |
| Raleigh | $43,000 | 360 | -19% |
| Wilmington | $37,000 | 210 | +88% |
| Winston Salem | $46,000 | 230 | +30% |
North Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck | $37,000 | 60 | +19% |
| Fargo | $38,000 | 110 | +11% |
| Grand Forks | $42,000 | 70 | +93% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | $37,000 | 400 | +47% |
| Canton | $38,000 | 130 | -6% |
| Cincinnati | $36,000 | 1,170 | +34% |
| Cleveland | $39,000 | 830 | -6% |
| Columbus | $47,000 | 1,100 | +39% |
| Dayton | $37,000 | 430 | +32% |
| Sandusky | $37,000 | 60 | +138% |
| Springfield | $45,000 | 70 | +95% |
| Toledo | $38,000 | 480 | +93% |
| Youngstown | $35,000 | 400 | +110% |
Oklahoma
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $36,000 | 440 | -11% |
| Tulsa | $34,000 | 250 | -32% |
Oregon
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bend | $44,000 | 100 | +106% |
| Corvallis | $39,000 | 30 | +58% |
| Eugene | $30,000 | 240 | +108% |
| Medford | $37,000 | 100 | +64% |
| Portland | $39,000 | 1,010 | +14% |
| Salem | $44,000 | 260 | +112% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown | $41,000 | 460 | +56% |
| Altoona | $35,000 | 100 | +114% |
| Erie | $38,000 | 230 | +120% |
| Johnstown | $42,000 | 70 | +63% |
| Lancaster | $40,000 | 450 | +128% |
| Lebanon | $65,000 | 50 | +47% |
| Philadelphia | $42,000 | 3,340 | +102% |
| Pittsburgh | $43,000 | 2,040 | +106% |
| Reading | $42,000 | 290 | +110% |
| Scranton | $30,000 | 430 | +95% |
| State College | $43,000 | 70 | +45% |
| Williamsport | $37,000 | 50 | +28% |
| York | $31,000 | 50 | -66% |
Rhode Island
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $51,000 | 1,340 | +180% |
South Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $34,000 | 140 | -42% |
| Columbia | $32,000 | 200 | -33% |
| Greenville | $34,000 | 100 | -61% |
| Spartanburg | $34,000 | 80 | -14% |
South Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $30,000 | 50 | +2% |
| Sioux Falls | $35,000 | 110 | -4% |
Tennessee
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $31,000 | 140 | -27% |
| Clarksville | $38,000 | 90 | +46% |
| Jackson | $34,000 | 100 | +122% |
| Johnson City | $29,000 | 70 | +25% |
| Kingsport | $34,000 | 110 | +12% |
| Knoxville | $35,000 | 270 | -5% |
| Memphis | $36,000 | 300 | -43% |
| Nashville | $38,000 | 860 | +35% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amarillo | $37,000 | 170 | +98% |
| Austin | $34,000 | 400 | -41% |
| Beaumont | $33,000 | 110 | -17% |
| Corpus Christi | $34,000 | 120 | -19% |
| Dallas | $34,000 | 370 | -80% |
| El Paso | $36,000 | 80 | -65% |
| Fort Worth | $38,000 | 280 | -62% |
| Houston | $37,000 | 750 | -67% |
| Longview | $34,000 | 30 | -61% |
| Lubbock | $34,000 | 30 | -71% |
| Mcallen | $32,000 | 50 | -74% |
| San Antonio | $37,000 | 220 | -71% |
Utah
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ogden | $41,000 | 50 | -70% |
| Provo | $50,000 | 80 | -43% |
| Salt Lake City | $38,000 | 680 | +30% |
Vermont
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington | $41,000 | 290 | +221% |
Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville | $34,000 | 70 | +2% |
| Danville | $40,000 | 60 | +140% |
| Lynchburg | $38,000 | 340 | +329% |
| Richmond | $46,000 | 920 | +74% |
| Roanoke | $42,000 | 300 | +134% |
| Virginia Beach | $44,000 | 160 | -76% |
Washington
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham | $40,000 | 80 | +39% |
| Longview | $38,000 | 30 | +26% |
| Olympia | $55,000 | 90 | +14% |
| Seattle | $46,000 | 650 | -46% |
| Spokane | $44,000 | 100 | -42% |
| Tacoma | $49,000 | 260 | +16% |
| Yakima | $41,000 | 80 | +21% |
West Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $43,000 | 350 | +193% |
| Huntington | $30,000 | 210 | +128% |
| Morgantown | $24,000 | 140 | +247% |
| Parkersburg | $32,000 | 100 | +89% |
| Wheeling | $27,000 | 140 | +179% |
Wisconsin
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton | $43,000 | 50 | -46% |
| Eau Claire | $40,000 | 80 | +38% |
| Green Bay | $44,000 | 80 | -43% |
| Janesville | $46,000 | 50 | +3% |
| Madison | $45,000 | 420 | +46% |
| Milwaukee | $46,000 | 820 | +14% |
| Oshkosh | $47,000 | 150 | +115% |
| Racine | $48,000 | 70 | +20% |
| Sheboygan | $46,000 | 30 | -30% |
Wyoming
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casper | $42,000 | 90 | +240% |