Explore This Path
Mental Health Social Worker
💰 Earn $58K-$119K
📚 Master Degree
⏱️ 48 Month Training
📈 10.3% Job Growth
- Help individuals overcome challenges and improve their mental well-being.
- Make a positive impact by supporting clients through therapy and crisis intervention.
- Collaborate with healthcare professionals to tailor effective treatment plans.
What Mental Health Social Workers DoAssess 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.
- 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.
Mental Health Social Workers Education, Salary, and GrowthOnly you can decide how much you need to earn — but knowing what it actually costs to live in your area can help. The Family Budget Calculator can guide you.
Minimum EducationMaster Degree
Career ProspectsExcellent (Increasing by 5% or more)
Training TimeOver 4 years
Job Openings12,500 Annually
Median earnings
California Median
$79,000
Most earn within this range
median ▾
$58K25th percentile
$119K75th percentile
National Median
$60,280
Most earn within this range
median ▾
$47K25th percentile
$80K75th percentile
Is This Career Right For You?
YOU Like
- Being creative or artistic
- Relating with or serving others
- Thinking and problem solving
you value
- Accomplishing things
- Having freedom
- Personal relationships
you are skilled in
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Active Learning
- Social Perceptiveness
Go Deeper: Mental Health Social Workers Explained
Mental Health Social WorkerExplore career pathways, key skills, and what each role has to offer.
How Do You Train for This Career?
Learn about the education and training paths that can lead to this career — and what to expect from each one.
Bachelor's DegreeA bachelor's degree typically results in increased knowledge about a variety of academic subjects, specialized knowledge in a focused field of study, and is considered the foundational qualification for many careers.
🎓 College
⏱️ Finish in 4-5+ years
Associate's DegreeAn associate's degree typically provides graduates with foundational knowledge and skills for entry-level jobs in the graduate's industry, or serves as a stepping stone towards further education.
🎓 College
⏱️ Finish in 2-3 years
Vocational SchoolA vocational school typically equips students with specialized skills and practical training in specific trades or occupations, enhancing their employability and providing direct pathways to relevant careers.
🎓 Skills-Focused
⏱️ Finish in 6 months - 2 years
Workforce Development ProgramA workforce development program typically enhances participants' opportunities to succeed in the workforce through employment skill-building, career counseling, connections to employers, and pathways to high-demand and high-wage jobs.
🎓 Skills-Focused
⏱️ Finish in 6 months - 2 years
Technology BootcampA technology bootcamp typically offers intensive training in specific tech skills, preparing participants for entry-level roles in the tech industry in a relatively short period of time.
🎓 Skills-Focused
⏱️ Finish in Less than a year
ApprenticeshipAn apprenticeship typically offers a combination of hands-on training and classroom instruction, leading to practical skills, industry-specific knowledge, and the potential for long-term employment in a specific trade or profession.
🎓 Paid Work
⏱️ Finish in 2-5 years
find training near you
Find local programs, apprenticeships, or degrees to start your path.
Enter your location to see training near you
Updated April 2026. Data sourced from O*NET and Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Want to explore more possibilities?
Search more paths with altpath discover.discover more
Search more paths with altpath discover.discover more