Salaries › Substance Abuse Counselor › Virginia
Substance Abuse Counselor Salary in Virginia (2026)
$28.79 per hour · take-home ≈ $47,611/year ($3,968/month) for a single filer
Substance Abuse Counselor pay range in Virginia
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $39,730 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $47,390 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $59,880 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $77,870 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $100,040 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 17,940 Substance Abuse Counselor jobs in Virginia (occupation code 21-1018, “Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors”).
Gross vs. take-home in Virginia
A median Substance Abuse Counselor salary of $59,880 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Virginia state income tax, a single filer keeps about $47,611 — an effective tax rate of 20.5%.
| Gross (median) | $59,880 |
| Federal income tax | −$5,006 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$4,581 |
| Virginia state income tax | −$2,682 |
| Take-home (annual) | $47,611 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,968 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Virginia paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Substance Abuse Counselor make in Virginia?
- The median Substance Abuse Counselor salary in Virginia is $59,880 per year ($28.79 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $47,390 and $77,870.
- What is the take-home pay for a Substance Abuse Counselor in Virginia?
- On the median salary of $59,880, a single filer in Virginia takes home about $47,611 per year ($3,968 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 20.5%.
- How many Substance Abuse Counselor jobs are there in Virginia?
- BLS counts 17,940 Substance Abuse Counselor jobs in Virginia in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Substance Abuse Counselors
Other salaries in Virginia
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified Virginia state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for Virginia.