Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in Richmond, VA
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in the Richmond, VA metro area earn a median $57,860 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $46,158 take-home, or $3,846 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors salary in Richmond, VA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,763
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,587
- Medicare (1.45%)$839
- Virginia income tax$2,513
- Take-home pay$46,158
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.75% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors pay by experience in Richmond, VA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,960 | $17.29 | $29,820 | $2,485 |
| 25th percentile | $46,800 | $22.50 | $37,907 | $3,159 |
| Median (50th) | $57,860 | $27.82 | $46,158 | $3,846 |
| 75th percentile | $76,710 | $36.88 | $59,199 | $4,933 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $96,680 | $46.48 | $72,099 | $6,008 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Virginia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $57,860 buys in Richmond, VA
Prices in Richmond, VA are 2.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors's $46,158 take-home pay has the buying power of $47,168 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Richmond, VA has 2.0× the national concentration of substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors, adjusted for cost of living
Richmond, VA ranks #22 of 42 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston, TX | $67,370 | $56,225 | $57,006 |
| 2 | Austin, TX | $66,780 | $55,810 | $56,910 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $73,580 | $60,594 | $54,523 |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $75,420 | $56,118 | $53,233 |
| 5 | Kansas City, MO | $60,690 | $49,029 | $52,980 |
| 6 | Cleveland, OH | $59,630 | $49,235 | $52,421 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $66,020 | $53,785 | $52,059 |
| 8 | Milwaukee, WI | $61,960 | $50,020 | $51,600 |
| 22 | Richmond, VA | $57,860 | $46,158 | $47,168 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 42 metros →
About the job: substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
- Typical education
- Master's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Internship/residency
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +18.4% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors salaries elsewhere in Virginia
- Virginia Beach, VA — $59,280
Frequently asked questions
How much does a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors make in Richmond, VA?
The median substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors salary in the Richmond, VA metro area is $57,860 a year, or about $27.82 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $46,800 and $76,710.
What is a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors’s take-home pay in Richmond, VA?
On the median $57,860 salary, a single filer living in Virginia takes home about $46,158 a year ($3,846 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,513 in Virginia taxes in 2026.
Is Richmond, VA a good place to work as a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $59,350. Local prices are 2.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $47,168 would in a typical U.S. city. Richmond, VA ranks #22 of 42 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors afford rent in Richmond, VA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Richmond, VA is $1,505 a month ($1,653 for two bedrooms) — 39% of a median substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.