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.

Cognitive and mental requirements

The qualifications that workers need to use judgment, make decisions, 

interact with others, and adapt to changes in jobs.

In 2023, verbal interactions were required constantly (every few minutes) 

for 43.5 percent of mental health and substance abuse social workers, and were required not constantly, but more than 

once per hour for 55.6 percent.

Table 1. Percentage of mental health and substance abuse social workers with 

cognitive and mental requirements, 2023

Requirement Yes No

Pace: Pause control 60.7 39.3

Interaction with general public >99.5 <0.5

Working around crowds <5 >95

Telework 14.8 85.2

Work review: Supervising others 12.8 87.2

Work review: Presence of supervisor 33.6 66.4

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey

Education, training, and experience requirements

The minimum level of formal 

education required, 

credentials necessary, on-thejob training, and prior work 

experience necessary for 

average performance in jobs.

In 2023, credentials were 

required for 94.3 percent of 

mental health and substance 

abuse social workers. Prior 

work experience was 

required for 76.5 percent and 

on-the-job training was 

required for 69.2 percent.

A master's degree was 

required for 62.8 percent of 

mental health and substance 

abuse social workers.
Occupational Requirements Survey ●www.bls.gov/ors ●orsinfo@bls.gov ●202.691.6199

Environmental conditions

The various tangible or concrete hazards 

or difficulties that are in the vicinity of 

where jobs’ critical tasks are performed.

In 2023, greater than 99.5 percent of 

mental health and substance abuse 

social workers were not exposed to 

extreme cold, and greater than 99.5 

percent were not exposed to extreme 

heat. Wetness was not present for 70.8 

percent, greater than 99.5 percent were 

not exposed to heavy vibrations, and 

87.9 percent were not exposed to the 

outdoors.

Physical demands

Refer to the physical activities required to 

perform tasks in jobs. The presence and, in 

some cases, duration of these activities are 

published.

In 2023, keyboarding was required for greater 

than 99.5 percent of mental health and 

substance abuse social workers and was not 

required for less than 0.5 percent. For less than 

0.5 percent of workers, keyboarding was 

seldom performed, for 64.9 percent 

keyboarding occurred occasionally, 35.1 

percent frequently, and for less than 0.5 

percent keyboarding occurred constantly.

Performing work in low postures was required 

for 17.5 percent of mental health and 

substance abuse social workers and was not 

required for 82.5 percent.

On average, mental health and substance abuse social workers spent 66.8 percent of the workday sitting and 33.2 

percent of the workday standing.

Table 2. Percentage of mental health and substance abuse social workers with physical 

demands, 2023

Requirement Yes No

Climbing structure-related ramps or stairs 41.7 58.3

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey