North Carolina Median
$55,490
per year
Hourly Rate
$26.68
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-7% vs US median
US median $59,350
State Rank
#39 of 51
10,300 employed here
How much do Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors make in North Carolina?
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors working in North Carolina earn a median salary of $55,490 per year, or about $26.68 per hour. That is 7% below the national median of $59,350 for this occupation.
Within North Carolina, entry-level pay starts around $37,440 while the top 10% make $86,010 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $45,100 and $68,610 a year.
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors salary range in North Carolina
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,440 | $18.00 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $45,100 | $21.68 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $55,490 | $26.68 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $68,610 | $32.99 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $86,010 | $41.35 |
|
How North Carolina compares
North Carolina ranks 39th out of 51 states and territories for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors salary in other states
Alaska $80,770Oregon $74,590New Mexico $74,100Washington $68,910North Dakota $68,630Arizona $65,300Rhode Island $65,120Utah $63,890Nebraska $63,770Connecticut $63,590Idaho $63,360Wyoming $62,980New Jersey $62,820Texas $62,630Colorado $62,390Wisconsin $62,220Vermont $61,810Michigan $61,690Iowa $60,880Illinois $60,730District of Columbia $60,450Hawaii $60,090Maine $59,970Massachusetts $59,890Virginia $59,880Maryland $59,530Kansas $59,470New York $59,450Oklahoma $59,350California $59,250Montana $59,000Georgia $58,960Minnesota $58,780Ohio $58,360Nevada $57,210Missouri $56,910Florida $56,790Delaware $56,020New Hampshire $54,840Kentucky $54,190Indiana $53,760South Dakota $53,650South Carolina $52,370Pennsylvania $52,010Arkansas $51,580Tennessee $49,580West Virginia $49,430Alabama $47,310Mississippi $46,990Louisiana $37,910
Working as Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in North Carolina
Nationally, about 492,000 people work as Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare North Carolina pay ($55,490) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors make in North Carolina?
The median Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors salary in North Carolina is $55,490 per year, or about $26.68 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $37,440 at the entry level to $86,010 for the top 10% of earners.
How does North Carolina pay compare to the national average?
North Carolina pays Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors about 7% less than the national median of $59,350. North Carolina ranks 39th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is North Carolina a good state for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $55,490 a year. About 10,300 Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors are employed in North Carolina. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in North Carolina?
The highest-paying occupations in North Carolina include Surgeon, All Other ($398,410), Dermatologist ($367,350), Emergency Medicine Physician ($339,350), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.