Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
According to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the median annual wage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY is $70,230. BLS estimates approximately 630 people work in this occupation in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY. Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY is 16.5% above the national median ($60,280).
Salary Distribution
Not everyone earns the median. Percentile wages show the range of pay within this occupation.
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $48,980 | $23.55 |
| 25th percentile | $58,440 | $28.09 |
| Median (50th) | $70,230 | $33.76 |
| 75th percentile | $78,840 | $37.90 |
| 90th percentile | $92,870 | $44.65 |
Data Reliability
BLS OEWS is a survey, not a full census — every estimate carries a margin of error. The relative standard error (RSE) below is BLS’s own measure of how much an estimate could vary; lower is more precise.
- Wage estimate
- RSE 2.9% — Very reliable
- Employment estimate
- RSE 9.1% — Reliable
Where Does Your Salary Fall?
Enter an annual salary to see roughly where it falls among reported wages for this occupation, based on the percentile points above.
Concentration
- Jobs per 1,000
- 1.188
- Location quotient
- 1.39
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY’s regional price level is below the national average (index 95.844, where 100 = U.S. average). Adjusted for that, the median salary has the purchasing power of $73,275 at the national price level.
This is a Career Atlas USA calculation based on BLS wage data and BEA Regional Price Parities. It is not a separate BLS wage estimate. Wage data: May 2025. Cost-of-living data: 2024.
Sources
Wage data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — May 2025 (release 25).
Figures shown as “Not available” reflect wages the source does not publish (e.g. suppressed for reliability), not zero.