Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary in Virginia
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Virginia earn a median annual wage of $64,240 —6.6% above the national median of $60,280. That ranks VA #13 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.
Wage distribution
How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.
Employment concentration (1.04×) is close to the national average.
Highest-paying states for mental health and substance abuse social workers
All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. Virginia is highlighted.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $79,380 | $38.16 | 14,820 | 1.79 |
| 2 | California | $79,000 | $37.98 | 19,860 | 1.28 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $78,640 | $37.81 | 1,540 | 1.06 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $75,020 | $36.07 | 3,590 | 1.42 |
| 5 | Maryland | $73,580 | $35.37 | 2,250 | 0.95 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $73,310 | $35.25 | 510 | 0.85 |
| 7 | Vermont | $73,210 | $35.20 | 320 | 1.24 |
| 8 | Washington | $70,460 | $33.88 | 3,490 | 1.15 |
| 9 | Oregon | $68,210 | $32.79 | 2,230 | 1.33 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $66,590 | $32.02 | 2,420 | 0.66 |
Related occupations in Virginia
Occupations in the same job family, compared within Virginia.
| Occupation | Virginia median | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | $59,880 | $59,350 |
| Social and Human Service Assistants | $43,450 | $45,930 |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $61,330 | $59,550 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $67,660 | $64,330 |
| Healthcare Social Workers | $66,550 | $67,880 |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | $69,810 | $56,730 |
Frequently asked questions
How much do mental health and substance abuse social workers make in Virginia?
The median annual wage for mental health and substance abuse social workers in Virginia is $64,240, or $30.89 per hour. That is 6.6% above the national median of $60,280.
What is the entry-level mental health and substance abuse social workers salary in Virginia?
Workers at the 10th percentile earn $48,530 per year ($23.33/hour). The 25th percentile is $53,620.
How many people work as mental health and substance abuse social workers in Virginia?
About 3,670 people work in this occupation in Virginia, or 0.9 per 1,000 jobs statewide.
Is Virginia a good state for mental health and substance abuse social workers?
Virginia ranks #13 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment concentration (1.04x) is close to the national average.
Which state pays mental health and substance abuse social workers the most?
New York has the highest median wage at $79,380 per year, followed by California ($79,000) and Connecticut ($78,640).