Community & Social Service
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
Also called: Case Manager, Clinical Social Worker, Clinical Therapist, Clinician
US median pay
$60,280
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+10.3%
faster than average
Openings a year (US)
12,500
138,900 employed
Typical entry education
Master's degree
Preparation 5/5 · Extensive preparation
What this job is
Assess and treat individuals with mental, emotional, or substance abuse problems, including abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and/or other drugs. Activities may include individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, case management, client advocacy, prevention, and education.
What they do day to day
- Counsel clients in individual or group sessions to assist them in dealing with substance abuse, mental or physical illness, poverty, unemployment, or physical abuse.
- Collaborate with counselors, physicians, or nurses to plan or coordinate treatment, drawing on social work experience and patient needs.
- Monitor, evaluate, and record client progress with respect to treatment goals.
- Interview clients, review records, conduct assessments, or confer with other professionals to evaluate the mental or physical condition of clients or patients.
- Supervise or direct other workers who provide services to clients or patients.
- Modify treatment plans according to changes in client status.
- Assist clients in adhering to treatment plans, such as setting up appointments, arranging for transportation to appointments, or providing support.
- Educate clients or community members about mental or physical illness, abuse, medication, or available community resources.
- Counsel or aid family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, or supporting the client or patient.
- Increase social work knowledge by reviewing current literature, conducting social research, or attending seminars, training workshops, or classes.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Social Perceptiveness4.2/5
- Service Orientation3.9/5
- Coordination3.9/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.9/5
- Persuasion3.8/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.5/5
- Negotiation3.4/5
- Time Management3.2/5
Knowledge
- Therapy and Counseling4.8/5
- Psychology4.7/5
- English Language3.9/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.8/5
- Education and Training3.7/5
- Sociology and Anthropology3.6/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 5 of 5 — Extensive preparation. Usually a graduate degree (master's, PhD, MD, JD) and extensive experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Master's degree.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Master's degree77%
- Bachelor's degree19%
Who this job suits
Mostly Social
Helping, teaching and caring for people
Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.