Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker Salary in Dallas, TX
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area earn a median $47,390 a year — 21% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $40,258 take-home, or $3,355 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median mental health and substance abuse social worker salary in Dallas, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,507
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,938
- Medicare (1.45%)$687
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$40,258
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker pay by experience in Dallas, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,440 | $18.00 | $32,263 | $2,689 |
| 25th percentile | $43,710 | $21.01 | $37,301 | $3,108 |
| Median (50th) | $47,390 | $22.78 | $40,258 | $3,355 |
| 75th percentile | $56,630 | $27.23 | $47,682 | $3,974 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $72,500 | $34.86 | $59,834 | $4,986 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $47,390 buys in Dallas, TX
Prices in Dallas, TX are 3.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.18× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median mental health and substance abuse social worker's $40,258 take-home pay has the buying power of $39,051 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker jobs are less concentrated in Dallas, TX than nationally (location quotient 0.78), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for mental health and substance abuse social workers, adjusted for cost of living
Dallas, TX ranks #6 of 7 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $82,450 | $62,978 | $55,949 |
| 2 | Minneapolis, MN | $75,020 | $58,029 | $55,359 |
| 3 | Los Angeles, CA | $78,410 | $59,910 | $52,753 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $63,830 | $50,496 | $46,641 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $57,720 | $45,846 | $44,255 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $47,390 | $40,258 | $39,051 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $46,340 | $38,464 | $37,230 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 7 metros →
About the job: mental health and substance abuse social workers
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.
- Typical education
- Master's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Internship/residency
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +10.3% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mental health and substance abuse social worker make in Dallas, TX?
The median mental health and substance abuse social worker salary in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area is $47,390 a year, or about $22.78 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $43,710 and $56,630.
What is a mental health and substance abuse social worker’s take-home pay in Dallas, TX?
On the median $47,390 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $40,258 a year ($3,355 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Dallas, TX a good place to work as a mental health and substance abuse social worker?
Pay here is 21% below the national median of $60,280. Local prices are 3.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $39,051 would in a typical U.S. city. Dallas, TX ranks #6 of 7 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a mental health and substance abuse social worker afford rent in Dallas, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Dallas, TX is $1,586 a month ($1,858 for two bedrooms) — 47% of a median mental health and substance abuse social worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.