Entry-level Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker salary in New York, NY
Based on 36 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Brooklyn, Flushing, Bayside, Little Neck, East Elmhurst.
Also listed as: Master Social Worker
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $52,541 |
| 25th | $54,922 |
| 50th (median) | $57,533 |
| 75th | $60,000 |
| 90th | $64,700 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $45,000 | $44,429 | $45,760 | 21 |
| FY2021 | $50,000 | $48,000 | $50,000 | 17 |
| FY2022 | $52,800 | $48,000 | $55,748 | 12 |
| FY2023 | $56,000 | $50,710 | $59,800 | 29 |
| FY2024 | $53,310 | $53,310 | $57,138 | 21 |
| FY2025 | $57,294 | $53,331 | $60,000 | 24 |
| FY2026 | $57,533 | $57,533 | $57,533 | 12 |
Cost of living
New York's median entry-level Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker salary of $57,533 is worth about $51,100 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; New York = 112.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in the New York, NY area earned a median of $82,450 in May 2025 (12,090 employed). The H-1B median here is $57,533, 30% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| The Child Center of NY | $57,533 | 13 |
| Hamilton-Madison House | $55,453 | 10 |
| YAI-National Institute for People with Disabilities | too few | 7 |
| Acmh | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $57,533 | 36 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $95,250 | 12 |
| Senior · Level III | – | 0 |
| Expert · Level IV | too few | 7 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $52,541 | $57,533 | 36 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $75,400 | $95,250 | 12 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.