Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors pay in Virginia

In Virginia, the median pay for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors is $28.79 an hour ($59,880 a year). About 17,940 people work in this job there.

$28.79Median hourly pay

$47,390–$77,870Middle half of workers, yearly

17,940People in this job in Virginia

That is about the same as the U.S. median ($59,350). Virginia ranks 25th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.

Pay range for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Virginia

Earns more than	Hourly	Yearly
10% of workers	$19.10	$39,730
25% of workers	$22.78	$47,390
Half of workers (median)	$28.79	$59,880
75% of workers	$37.44	$77,870
90% of workers	$48.10	$100,040

Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors pay in Virginia metro areas

Metro area	Median yearly pay	People in this job
Harrisonburg	$61,830	260
Lynchburg	$60,220	780
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk	$59,280	3,760
Richmond	$57,860	4,150
Charlottesville	$57,220	0
Staunton-Stuarts Draft	$55,060	190
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford	$52,060	730
Roanoke	$52,040	570
Winchester	$50,580	340

Virginia unemployment rate: 3.6% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Education, experience and outlook for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors

Typical education to start: Master's degree (BLS)
Training on the job: Internship/residency (BLS)
Job outlook: +18.4% over ten years, much faster than average · about 50,500 openings a year (BLS)

Related jobs in Virginia

Job	Median yearly pay
Social and Human Service Assistants	$43,450
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors	$67,660
Child, Family, and School Social Workers	$61,330
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers	$64,240
Healthcare Social Workers	$66,550
Rehabilitation Counselors	$47,530
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists	$58,820
Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other	$69,810

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Source: 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.