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Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary in Maine: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary really buy you in Maine?

Maine is near the US average cost of living

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$57,050
Median annual (2025)
-0.8%
Real Purchasing Power
$56,597
COL-adjusted (RPP=100.8)

Maine Cost of Living Index

Maine's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 100.8, meaning prices are 0.8% higher the national average. A Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers earning $57,050 in Maine has the equivalent purchasing power of $56,597 in an average-cost US state.

ME: 100.8
Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Maine's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $45,870 $45,505 $-364
25th Percentile (P25) $47,740 $47,361 $-378
Median (P50) $57,050 $56,597 $-452
75th Percentile (P75) $77,650 $77,033 $-616
90th Percentile (P90) $96,370 $95,605 $-764
Key Insight

Maine's cost of living is close to the national average, so $57,050 keeps most of its value at $56,597 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Maine Sits Near the National Cost Benchmark

RPP 100.8

With an RPP of 100.8, Maine is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.

Minor COL Adjustment for This Salary

-0.8%

After adjusting for Maine's cost of living, $57,050 nominal nets out to $56,597 in real purchasing power — a small 0.8% loss. The state's cost profile is close enough to average that COL alone shouldn't drive location decisions for this Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers.

Below-Median Adjusted Pay

#27 / 51

Maine's rank of #27 of 51 states means real purchasing power for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers trails the national half-way line.

Best States for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers (After Cost of Living)

Where does Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

$76,786
RPP 97.7
$73,909
RPP 106.4
$73,773
RPP 107.6
4. Vermont
$72,413
RPP 101.1
$72,131
RPP 91.0
$70,222
RPP 112.5
$70,076
RPP 105.0
$68,748
RPP 88.7
$67,655
RPP 86.6
10. Wisconsin
$67,020
RPP 92.3

Maine ranks #27 out of 51 states for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers take-home pay in Maine after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Maine after cost of living?

A Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Maine earns a median salary of $57,050 per year. After adjusting for Maine's cost of living (RPP=100.8), the real purchasing power is $56,597 — a -0.8% difference.

Is Maine expensive to live in?

Maine's cost of living is 0.8% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Maine is 100.8 (US average = 100).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Maine: $57,050 x (100 / 100.8) = $56,597. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

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