Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers pay in Virginia
In Virginia, the median pay for mental health and substance abuse social workers is $30.89 an hour ($64,240 a year). About 3,670 people work in this job there.
That is 7% higher than the U.S. median ($60,280). Virginia ranks 13th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for mental health and substance abuse social workers in Virginia
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $23.33 | $48,530 |
| 25% of workers | $25.78 | $53,620 |
| Half of workers (median) | $30.89 | $64,240 |
| 75% of workers | $38.65 | $80,390 |
| 90% of workers | $49.27 | $102,480 |
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers pay in Virginia metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft | $68,800 | 50 |
| Richmond | $63,020 | 740 |
| Charlottesville | $61,970 | 0 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $61,760 | 0 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford | $58,980 | 0 |
| Lynchburg | $58,320 | 90 |
| Roanoke | $58,320 | 190 |
| Winchester | $51,900 | 40 |
Virginia unemployment rate: 3.6% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for mental health and substance abuse social workers
- Typical education to start: Master's degree (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 2 to 4 years (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Internship/residency (BLS)
- Job outlook: +10.3% over ten years, much faster than average · about 12,500 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in Virginia
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.