Career Paths From Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers

Possible next moves, computed from skill overlap, O*NET occupational relatedness, preparation level, education, and pay — not a record of people who actually made these moves.

Marriage and Family TherapistsLateral Move96.6% skill match
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists share a similar Transferable Skills profile (97% match). Marriage and Family Therapists sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 11% higher.
Current median salary
$60,280
Target median salary
$66,940
Current Job Zone
5
Target Job Zone
5
Healthcare Social WorkersLateral Move97.6% skill match
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers and Healthcare Social Workers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (98% match). Healthcare Social Workers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 13% higher.
Current median salary
$60,280
Target median salary
$67,880
Current Job Zone
5
Target Job Zone
5
PsychiatristsCareer Change98% skill match
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers and Psychiatrists share a similar Transferable Skills profile (98% match). Psychiatrists is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 368% higher.
Current median salary
$60,280
Target median salary
$281,870
Current Job Zone
5
Target Job Zone
5
Rehabilitation CounselorsLateral Move97.4% skill match
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers and Rehabilitation Counselors share a similar Transferable Skills profile (97% match). Rehabilitation Counselors sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Job Zone is lower (4 vs 5). Median salary is about 22% lower.
Current median salary
$60,280
Target median salary
$46,850
Current Job Zone
5
Target Job Zone
4
Child, Family, and School Social WorkersLateral Move97.4% skill match
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers and Child, Family, and School Social Workers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (97% match). Child, Family, and School Social Workers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Job Zone is lower (4 vs 5).
Current median salary
$60,280
Target median salary
$59,550
Current Job Zone
5
Target Job Zone
4
School PsychologistsCareer Change96.9% skill match
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers and School Psychologists share a similar Transferable Skills profile (97% match). School Psychologists is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 59% higher.
Current median salary
$60,280
Target median salary
$95,990
Current Job Zone
5
Target Job Zone
5
Recreational TherapistsCareer Change96.6% skill match
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers and Recreational Therapists share a similar Transferable Skills profile (97% match). Recreational Therapists is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is lower (4 vs 5). Median salary is about 3% higher.
Current median salary
$60,280
Target median salary
$61,960
Current Job Zone
5
Target Job Zone
4
Special Education Teachers, PreschoolCareer Change96.7% skill match
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers and Special Education Teachers, Preschool share a similar Transferable Skills profile (97% match). Special Education Teachers, Preschool is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 8% higher.
Current median salary
$60,280
Target median salary
$64,830
Current Job Zone
5
Target Job Zone
5
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment SpecialistsLateral Move97.8% skill match
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers and Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists share a similar Transferable Skills profile (98% match). Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Job Zone is lower (4 vs 5). Median salary is about 10% higher.
Current median salary
$60,280
Target median salary
$66,270
Current Job Zone
5
Target Job Zone
4
Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolCareer Change97.2% skill match
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers and Special Education Teachers, Secondary School share a similar Transferable Skills profile (97% match). Special Education Teachers, Secondary School is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is lower (4 vs 5). Median salary is about 23% higher.
Current median salary
$60,280
Target median salary
$74,260
Current Job Zone
5
Target Job Zone
4
Social and Human Service AssistantsLateral Move96.6% skill match
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers and Social and Human Service Assistants share a similar Transferable Skills profile (97% match). Social and Human Service Assistants sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Job Zone is lower (4 vs 5). Median salary is about 24% lower.
Current median salary
$60,280
Target median salary
$45,930
Current Job Zone
5
Target Job Zone
4
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationCareer Change97.2% skill match
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers and Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education share a similar Transferable Skills profile (97% match). Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is lower (4 vs 5). Median salary is about 6% higher.
Current median salary
$60,280
Target median salary
$63,970
Current Job Zone
5
Target Job Zone
4
Substitute Teachers, Short-TermCareer Change96.8% skill match
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers and Substitute Teachers, Short-Term share a similar Transferable Skills profile (97% match). Substitute Teachers, Short-Term is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is lower (4 vs 5). Median salary is about 31% lower.
Current median salary
$60,280
Target median salary
$41,670
Current Job Zone
5
Target Job Zone
4
Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and TimekeepingCareer Change98.5% skill match
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers and Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping share a similar Transferable Skills profile (98% match). Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is lower (3 vs 5). Median salary is about 16% lower.
Current median salary
$60,280
Target median salary
$50,610
Current Job Zone
5
Target Job Zone
3
Self-Enrichment TeachersCareer Change96.7% skill match
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers and Self-Enrichment Teachers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (97% match). Self-Enrichment Teachers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is lower (3 vs 5). Median salary is about 22% lower.
Current median salary
$60,280
Target median salary
$46,800
Current Job Zone
5
Target Job Zone
3

Computed from O*NET Transferable Skills, occupational relatedness and Job Zone data, plus BLS wage and projections data. Categories (Advancement / Lateral Move / Career Change) are derived algorithmically, not self-reported career histories.