💰 Salary Guide

Social Worker Salary in Virginia (2026 Guide)

Virginia sits in the upper tier of U.S. social worker compensation, with a weighted mean salary of $68,169. Virginia's dc-adjacent federal employers and strong hospital networks creates strong demand for licensed clinicians and specialists.

$68,169
Mean salary
+11.2% vs. U.S. median
$81,620
LCSW upside
+19.7% above state mean
26,910
Employed
BLS OES May 2024
+6.7%
Growth 2024–2034
Projected job growth
Salary Breakdown

Virginia salary by specialty.

BLS tracks four social worker subcategories. Each has different salary dynamics driven by licensure, setting, and employer type.

Specialty (SOC) Virginia mean U.S. mean Differential
Child, Family & School
SOC 21-1021 · BSW/LMSW/LCSW		 $65,040 $58,570 +11.0%
Healthcare / Medical
SOC 21-1022 · LCSW		 $67,040 $68,090 -1.5%
Mental Health & Substance Abuse
SOC 21-1023 · LCSW		 $70,870 $60,060 +18.0%
Social Workers, All Other
SOC 21-1029 · Policy/VA/Private		 $81,620 $69,480 +17.5%

Data: BLS OES May 2024. Differential compares state subcategory mean to national subcategory mean.

What this means

What this salary picture tells you.

Virginia is a solid compensation market with balanced supply and demand. Specialty credentials and LCSW status drive the biggest pay differentials.

Shortage level: Moderate   Demand score: 79/100   Top settings: Government, Healthcare, Schools

How to earn more in Virginia

Three levers that move the salary needle.

1. LCSW licensure. The LCSW is the single biggest salary lever in social work. In Virginia, licensed clinical social workers earn up to $81,620 — +19.7% above the state mean. Requires 4,000 supervised clinical hours and 2 years post-MSW.

2. Specialty choice. Healthcare social workers earn $67,040 on average in Virginia — typically the highest-paying subcategory. Substance use and geriatric specializations also command premiums due to demand.

3. Setting and employer type. Nationally, state/local government and hospital systems pay $12,000–$16,000 more than individual and family services. PSLF-eligible public-sector employment adds significant effective compensation for anyone with student loans.

LCSW path in VirginiaHours, timeline, examSee the roadmap → Find supervisionConnect with LCSW supervisorsBrowse supervisors → Open jobs in VirginiaLCSW-eligible with 4-signal listingsBrowse jobs →
Compare Virginia to peer states

Salary peers worth comparing.

Automatically selected based on region, salary tier, and shortage contrast.

North Carolina
South · Mean salary
$61,844
Colorado
West · Mean salary
$67,929
Alaska
West · Mean salary
$68,542
Massachusetts
Northeast · Mean salary
$73,604
FAQ

Common questions about social work salary in Virginia.

How much do social workers make in Virginia?
The weighted mean annual salary for social workers in Virginia is $68,169, based on BLS OES May 2024 data. Pay varies significantly by specialty: Child/Family/School social workers average $65,040, Healthcare social workers $67,040, and Mental Health & Substance Abuse social workers $70,870.
How much do LCSWs make in Virginia?
LCSWs in Virginia typically earn up to $81,620 in the highest-paying settings (usually mental health, healthcare, or specialty private practice). That's +19.7% above the overall state mean. Clinical licensure is the single biggest salary lever in social work.
What's the highest-paying social work specialty in Virginia?
In Virginia, the highest-paying subcategory is All Other (policy, VA, private practice) at $81,620. Nationally, healthcare social work tends to be the most consistently well-paid, but state-specific patterns vary.
Is Virginia a good state for social workers?
Virginia has a demand score of 79/100 based on growth rate, shortage pressure, and labor-market signals. The state's moderate shortage level and 6.7% projected growth 2024–2034 shape both job availability and compensation dynamics. Best-fit settings include government, healthcare, schools.
Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES), May 2024 — mean annual wage by SOC subcategory (21-1021 / 21-1022 / 21-1023 / 21-1029). Weighted mean uses national employment weights (CFS 49%, HC 24%, MH 17%, Other 10%). State employment counts: BLS OES SOC 21-1020 aggregated; est. indicates population-proportional estimate. Growth rate: BLS national 2024–2034 projection with state demographic modifiers. Last updated April 2026. This page provides general career-planning data, not legal or licensing advice — verify current state board requirements before making career decisions.