Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers pay in Virginia
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Virginia earn an average of $72,020 a year. That is $3,990 (6%) more than the U.S. average of $68,030. The best-paying metro area is Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV at $83,640.
Top-paying Virginia metro areas
Average pay for mental health and substance abuse social workers by metro area. Swipe to see all 10.
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Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers pay in Virginia, charted
Pay over time
Where Virginia mental health and substance abuse social workers work
Average pay by state
Virginia vs. neighbors
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $68,030 | $32.71 |
| Virginia | $72,020 | $34.63 |
| District of Columbia | $83,340 | $40.07 |
| Maryland | $72,980 | $35.09 |
| North Carolina | $59,880 | $28.79 |
| West Virginia | $52,000 | $25.00 |
| Tennessee | $50,000 | $24.04 |
Related jobs in Virginia
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$65,430
- Social and Human Service Assistants$45,060
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers$66,500
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$71,920
- Healthcare Social Workers$69,390
- Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other$69,030
Average pay, Virginia, May 2025
Questions and answers
How much do mental health and substance abuse social workers make in Virginia?
The average is $72,020 a year, and the median is $64,240. That is $3,990 (6%) more than the U.S. average of $68,030.
What is the hourly wage in Virginia?
$34.63 an hour on average; the median is $30.89.
Where in Virginia do they earn the most?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($83,640), followed by Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC ($72,820). The lowest average among 10 metro areas with data is Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA ($52,510).
How does Virginia rank?
Virginia ranks #11 of 51 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.