By: All Psychology Schools Staff
Updated: January 16, 2026
Human services salaries in Virginia
Virginia is a good state to work in human services because it offers competitive salaries and diverse opportunities across urban and rural communities, supported by state investment in social programs.
Here are three top reasons why Virginia stands out as a “best state” for working in human services:
Comprehensive pay and stability:
Virginia state human services roles offer competitive total compensation—strong health insurance, generous leave, defined-benefit pension via the Virginia Retirement System and bonus/potential raises—alongside high job security compared to private-sector jobs.
Professional development and career pathways:
Programs such as SystemLEAD leadership tracks and Direct Support Professional career ladders provide ongoing training, advancement opportunities, mentorship and credential support within the behavioral health and social services system.
Eased licensure and hiring for social services:
Virginia has streamlined interstate licensing for social workers and actively recruits human service professionals—including through loan forgiveness and relocation incentives—making it easier for qualified candidates to enter the field.
Quick view of human services in Virginia
There are many job titles that fall under the human services umbrella. For this salary article we’ll focus on career fields in human services assistants, and substance abuse, mental health and behavioral counseling.
That said, special considerations should be made for veterans services due to Virginia’s close proximity to DC and significant state support. Here are five human services careers specific to Virginia:
What are the most common human services jobs in Virginia?
Family services specialist: State and local Virginia Department of Social Services roles involve investigating abuse and neglect, coordinating foster care and adoption, and supporting families in crisis.
Social worker in behavioral health: Employment in the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services as well as public health departments and the VA, focusing on mental health, substance-use treatment, community clinics and veteran care. The VA and DBHDS are major social work employers in the state.
Mental health or peer recovery specialist: Positions in counties such as Henrico provide counseling and recovery support specifically for veterans, often collaborating with jail diversion and behavioral health services.
Veteran peer specialist: Statewide roles support veterans and their families through peer-to-peer coaching, advocacy and navigation of behavioral health and reintegration services.
Rehabilitation counselor and vocational rehabilitation specialist: Work in state rehabilitation programs, including veterans’ vocational services to help individuals—including veterans—gain independence and employment. Roles generally require a master’s degree.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported 8,260 human services assistants working in Virginia, and ranked the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area as having the eighth highest employment of human services assistants in the U.S. The median wage per hour for human services assistants in Virginia is $21, while substance abuse, behavioral and mental health counselors made a median hourly wage of $29.
How does Virginia support its human services workers?
The primary way Virginia supports its human services workers is through comprehensive state-backed benefits and professional development, including competitive salaries, the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) pension, tuition assistance, paid training programs like SystemLEAD and pathways for advancement across state and local human services agencies.
A human services career to consider in Virginia…
The human services job currently most needed in Virginia is licensed behavioral health provider—especially clinical social workers and licensed professional counselors. Over 93 of Virginia’s 133 jurisdictions are designated mental health professional shortage areas, and with significant numbers of clinicians nearing retirement, demand continues to far outpace available supply of qualified workers.
Who employs health services workers in Virginia?
These organizations span public, non-profit and government-contracted sectors, offering diverse roles in child welfare, veterans’ support, mental health, and community services. Here are five employers of human services workers in Virginia:
- Virginia Department of Social Services, Glen Allen HQ, with statewide local offices:
- A major public employer with over 12,000 staff across state and local levels, providing child protective services, economic assistance and family support statewide.
- Virginia Department of Veterans Services (VA), Statewide:
- With multiple medical centers across the Commonwealth, the VA is one of the largest employers of social workers, counselors and peer specialists, focused heavily on veteran care.
- Volunteers of America, Alexandria:
- Headquartered in Alexandria and serving veterans, housing-insecure individuals, seniors and those recovering from addiction—employing about 16,000 staff nationally, many based in VA.
- Behavioral Health Services of Virginia, Richmond:
- A Richmond-based non-profit specializing in youth and mental health services.
- Community Services Boards, Alexandria and statewide:
- Forty Community Service Boards serve as primary mental health and addiction service providers in Virginia. Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare in Roanoke alone employs around 350 people.
Salary stats for Virginia human services workers
While BLS national median salaries for human services assistants rested at $45,930 a year, with substance abuse, mental health and behavioral counseling salaries at $59,550, pay may vary depending upon where you work, your employer, how much experience you have and your level of education.
With that in mind, here’s how Virginia ranks against the national figures:
| Human services field | Median annual national pay | Median MN annual pay |
|---|---|---|
| School, child and family social workers | $59,550 | $61,330 |
| Social and human services assistants | $45,930 | $43,450 |
| Substance abuse, mental health and behavioral counselors | $59,350 | $59,880 |
What are human services salaries like within Virginia?
Northern Virginia clearly leads by a wide margin across multiple job levels as far as pay, thanks to its proximity to DC and strong government/nonprofit funding.
The top three paying areas in Virginia include:
- Washington–Arlington–Alexandria (Northern Virginia / Metro DC), which includes Arlington & Fairfax Counties and Alexandria City.
- Richmond metro area, where social and human service assistants have the highest median salary for assistant-level roles statewide.
- Virginia Beach–Norfolk–Newport News (Hampton Roads)
Here’s what the BLS reported for median salaries for human services assistants and mental health, behavioral and substance abuse counselors in the state:
Social and Human Service Assistants
10%$32,840
25%$37,130
50%$43,450Median
75%$49,140
90%$60,500
Median Hourly Wage$21
Job growth7.4%
Total Employment10,670
| Metro area | Median Salary | Bottom 10% | Top 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville, VA | $44,270 | $36,750 | $61,070 |
| Richmond, VA | $42,170 | $33,510 | $59,930 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $41,040 | $34,980 | $48,830 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $39,600 | $32,580 | $50,780 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $39,160 | $31,460 | $59,370 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $39,030 | $26,540 | $49,560 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $38,530 | $31,090 | $51,670 |
| Roanoke, VA | $37,490 | $33,150 | $53,290 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $36,530 | $28,860 | $53,330 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2025 median salary; projected job growth through 2035. Actual salaries vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
10%$39,730
25%$47,390
50%$59,880Median
75%$77,870
90%$100,040
Median Hourly Wage$29
Job growth18.4%
Total Employment17,940
| Metro area | Median Salary | Bottom 10% | Top 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisonburg, VA | $61,830 | $42,780 | $94,750 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $60,220 | $39,440 | $105,940 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $59,280 | $37,240 | $96,790 |
| Richmond, VA | $57,860 | $35,960 | $96,680 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $57,220 | $43,210 | $81,020 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $55,060 | $43,630 | $77,170 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $52,060 | $40,190 | $73,020 |
| Roanoke, VA | $52,040 | $38,300 | $78,750 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $50,580 | $38,970 | $82,810 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2025 median salary; projected job growth through 2035. Actual salaries vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.
How do human services salaries compare?
Here’s how the BLS compared national median pay rates among different types of human services professionals:
Salary range for human services in Virginia
Human services assistants were paid $32,840 for the lowest 10% to well over $60,500 for the upper 10% of the field, said the BLS.
Here’s how understanding where you fall on the human services career ladder in relation to salary levels reported by the BLS can help you map out a realistic career trajectory.
The BLS reports salary percentiles to show the spread of wages in an occupation:
- 10th percentile: Entry-level or very early-career roles
- 25th percentile: Junior roles with some experience
- 50th percentile (Median): Typical worker with mid-level experience
- 75th percentile: Experienced professionals, often in supervisory roles
- 90th percentile: Highly experienced, advanced or leadership positions
Human services is a broad field, but entry-level vs. advanced-level roles are generally distinguished by:
| Criteria | Entry-level | Advanced-level |
|---|---|---|
| Education | High school diploma to associate degree; sometimes a bachelor’s | Master’s degree or higher, often with licensure |
| Experience | 0–2 years | 5–10+ years |
| Job title | Human services assistant, case aide, residential counselor | Licensed clinical social worker, program director, mental health administrator |
| Responsibilities | Support roles, data entry, basic client interaction, referrals | Policy-making, supervision, advanced counseling, crisis intervention |
Keep in mind
Location matters: Urban and high-cost areas may pay more across all percentiles.
Specialization increases pay: Roles in mental health, substance abuse, or veteran services may bump you into higher brackets faster.
Advancement often requires more education: Most higher-paying roles require a master’s degree and/or state licensure, especially in counseling or clinical roles.
What is the job growth for the field?
Employment of human services roles is expected to grow 7.4% through 2035, which is faster than the national average for all occupations, said the BLS.
In Virginia, the growth of human services jobs—particularly in social work, mental health and community support—is mainly driven by two key factors:
- Aging population with health-related needs: Virginia’s increasing elderly demographic extends demand for roles like home health aides, personal care aides and nursing assistants.
- Workforce shortages: There’s a surge in demand for counselors and social workers due to the opioid crisis, widespread substance use disorders and broader mental health needs. Virginia’s crisis response infrastructure scaled up considerably—call volumes jumped 157% from May 2022 to May 2024—leading the state to hire and staff up significantly, said Axios Richmond.
O*Net, a subsidiary of the BLS, stated that human services assistants would have a 16% projected job growth rate in Virginia through 2032, which is double the national average, adding around 1,420 positions.
National employment numbers by metro area
The BLS reported that the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, metro area ranked eighth in the U.S. for highest employment of human services assistants. Here’s how the BLS ranked other high-employment cities in the country:
Factors affecting human services salaries in Virginia
In Virginia, as in other states, several major factors may influence how much you earn as a human services worker:
- Education and licensure level:
- Higher education equals higher pay. A master’s degree or state licensure, such as LCSW or LPC, may open doors to advanced roles like clinical counselor or program director.
- Experience and specialization:
- Years on the job may significantly affect pay. Specialized experience, such as trauma-informed care, substance abuse counseling or veterans’ services, is often rewarded with higher salaries. Employers value niche expertise in high-need populations—especially in behavioral health and crisis intervention.
- Geographic location within Virginia:
- Northern Virginia and metro areas such as Richmond and Virginia Beach may offer significantly higher salaries due to higher cost of living and proximity to federal agencies or military bases. Rural areas, especially in southwest or southside Virginia, may pay 20–30% less for comparable roles.
- Employer type and funding source:
- Federal agencies or contractors, such as VA hospitals and DoD-affiliated programs tend to pay more, while state agencies offer stable benefits but modest salaries. Nonprofits and community organizations may offer mission-driven work but often lower pay, unless grant-funded.
Learn more about human services salaries in your state
For a more detailed breakdown of human services salaries where you live, check out your state below:
What is the education path to become a human services assistant in Virginia?
To become a human services assistant in Virginia and then move into more advanced roles such as a behavioral or mental health counselor, this is the typical path:
Step one: Entry level
- Earn your high school diploma or GED
- Some college or an associate degree in human services, psychology, sociology or social work
- Helpful credentials include:
- Certified Human Services–Board Certified Practitioner (HS-BCP) which is useful for later advancement
- CPR/First Aid, Mental Health First Aid
- Internships or volunteer experience
Step two: Advance to mid-level roles
- Earn a bachelor’s degree in human services, psychology, social work or public health
- Some Virginia agencies (especially state or county social services departments) may promote from within if you pursue your bachelor’s while working.
Step three: Advanced roles
- Earn a master’s degree (required for clinical roles or supervision):
- MSW (Master of Social Work)
- MEd in Counseling
- MA in Clinical Psychology or Human Services Counseling
Additional requirements:
- Licensure if pursuing clinical or supervisory roles:
- LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker)
- LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor)
Cost of living in Virginia
The Cost of Living Index rated Virginia at 100.7, so if the national average is 100, Virginia’s cost of living is .7% higher, meaning Virginia’s cost of living is slightly above the national average.
This is largely due to high housing and transportation costs in metro areas like Northern Virginia. However, the state offers regional variation—while urban centers near Washington, DC are expensive, many rural and southern regions remain more affordable. Overall, the state balances higher living costs with strong wages and access to public services, especially in fields like human services and education.
Resources for human services professionals
Professional groups offer support, advocacy and important resources for human services workers. Here are some professional groups in North Carolina that support those in the human services field, including social workers, behavioral health providers and community service professionals:
Virginia Association of Community Services Boards (VACSB): A group for professionals in mental health, developmental disability and substance use services. VACSB offers advocacy for public behavioral health, professional development events and conferences and networking with Virginia’s 40 Community Services Boards.
Virginia chapter–National Association of Social Workers (NASWVA): For social workers, counselors and human service professionals in Virginia. The association offers continuing education and licensure resources, ethics consultations, advocacy updates and member events.
A career in human services in Virginia may be shaped by education, and where in the state you choose to work. While wages may not always be as high as other states, the average cost of living may help salaries stretch. Use our salary guide to help make an informed decision about your education choices and pay and the benefits of entering into a career designed to help others.