How to become a Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker

Official title: Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers

Also called: Case Manager, Clinical Social Worker, Clinical Therapist, Clinician, Counselor, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Mental Health Therapist, Social Worker, Therapist

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.

Main tasks

• 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.

How to become one

Social workers typically need a bachelor's or master's degree in social work. They also may need a license; specific requirements vary by state. Clinical social workers need a master's degree, supervised clinical experience, and a license from the state in which they practice.

Typical education to start: Master's degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

• College: Health & Public Health degrees, Offered by 29 universities in the US
• Licence: A licence is required in 43 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: $60,280 a year The middle half earn $47,070 to $79,730.
• About 138,900 people work in this job now, and about 153,200 are projected by 2035. (+10.3%)
• People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Related jobs

• Child, Family, and School Social Workers
• Healthcare Social Workers
• Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors
• Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
• Marriage and Family Therapists
• Mental Health Counselors

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker?

Social workers typically need a bachelor's or master's degree in social work. They also may need a license; specific requirements vary by state. Clinical social workers need a master's degree, supervised clinical experience, and a license from the state in which they practice.

How much does a Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $60,280 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $47,070 to $79,730.

Is a Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 10% by 2035, from about 138,900 to about 153,200 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker?

Usually. 88% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

• Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.