Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in Virginia
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Virginia earned a median of $59,880 a year ($28.79 an hour) and a mean of $65,430 in May 2025. The median is 0.9% above the U.S. median of $59,350, ranking 25th of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $59,880
- Median hourly
- $28.79
- Mean annual
- $65,430
- Jobs on record
- 17,940
Grey needle: U.S. median, $59,350 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Confirm any figure on bls.gov/oes. Latest BLS release: May 2025, published May 15, 2026; checked November 10, 2026.
How does Virginia compare on pay for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
Virginia ranks 25th of 52 states and territories. Alaska is highest at $80,770, $20,890 more than the Virginia median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maine | 23 | $59,970 | +1% | 1,930 |
| Massachusetts | 24 | $59,890 | +1% | 18,190 |
| Virginia | 25 | $59,880 | +1% | 17,940 |
| Maryland | 26 | $59,530 | +0% | 9,730 |
| Kansas | 27 | $59,470 | +0% | 2,600 |
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025. Rank 1 is the highest median among 52 states and territories with a published figure. See every state.
Does Virginia pay go further after prices?
Prices in Virginia run 1.1% above the U.S. average, so the $59,880 median buys about what $59,226 buys at average U.S. prices, below the $59,350 U.S. median. On this measure Virginia ranks 31st of 51, down from 25th before the adjustment.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. The adjustment divides pay by the state's price level.
Which areas in Virginia pay substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors the most?
Harrisonburg, VA is highest at $61,830, 3.3% above the Virginia median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Harrisonburg, VA | $61,830 | 260 |
| Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $60,370 | 100 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $60,220 | 780 |
| Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $60,190 | 460 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $59,280 | 3,760 |
| Richmond, VA | $57,860 | 4,150 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $57,220 | |
| Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $57,090 | 510 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $55,060 | 190 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $52,060 | 730 |
| Roanoke, VA | $52,040 | 570 |
| Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $51,230 | 100 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $50,580 | 340 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Virginia is shown; an area that crosses state lines is listed under the first state in its BLS title.
How many substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors work in Virginia?
BLS counts 17,940 jobs in Virginia, 3.6% of the 491,930 in the U.S. That is the 9th largest count among the 51 states and territories with a published figure. That is 4.4 of every 1,000 jobs in Virginia, a location quotient of 1.38: the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.38 times its national share, so it is more concentrated here than in the U.S. as a whole.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025 and national file.
How does the Virginia minimum wage compare with pay for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
The 10th-percentile hourly pay for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Virginia was $19.10 in May 2025, $6.33 above the $12.77 minimum wage that applies there now. The pay figure dates from May 2025 and the minimum wage is the current rate, so the two are not from the same date.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws, updated 2026-11-05; BLS OEWS state file, May 2025, 10th-percentile hourly wage.
Related jobs in Virginia
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.