Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in North Carolina
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in North Carolina earned a median of $55,490 a year ($26.68 an hour) and a mean of $59,160 in May 2025. The median is 6.5% below the U.S. median of $59,350, ranking 39th of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $55,490
- Median hourly
- $26.68
- Mean annual
- $59,160
- Jobs on record
- 10,300
Grey needle: U.S. median, $59,350 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Confirm any figure on bls.gov/oes. Latest BLS release: May 2025, published May 15, 2026; checked November 10, 2026.
How does North Carolina compare on pay for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?
North Carolina ranks 39th of 52 states and territories. Alaska is highest at $80,770, $25,280 more than the North Carolina median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 37 | $56,790 | -4% | 29,750 |
| Delaware | 38 | $56,020 | -6% | 1,700 |
| North Carolina | 39 | $55,490 | -7% | 10,300 |
| New Hampshire | 40 | $54,840 | -8% | 3,690 |
| Kentucky | 41 | $54,190 | -9% | 7,690 |
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025. Rank 1 is the highest median among 52 states and territories with a published figure. See every state.
Does North Carolina pay go further after prices?
Prices in North Carolina run 5.7% below the U.S. average, so the $55,490 median buys about what $58,828 buys at average U.S. prices, below the $59,350 U.S. median. On this measure North Carolina ranks 32nd of 51, up from 39th before the adjustment.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. The adjustment divides pay by the state's price level.
Which areas in North Carolina pay substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors the most?
Raleigh-Cary, NC is highest at $59,600, 7.4% above the North Carolina median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $59,600 | 1,400 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $59,560 | 680 |
| Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $56,360 | 460 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $56,130 | 3,380 |
| Greenville, NC | $55,490 | 170 |
| Asheville, NC | $53,090 | 680 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $52,620 | 80 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $52,060 | 120 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $51,410 | 480 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $51,060 | 310 |
| Burlington, NC | $50,440 | 90 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $49,990 | 110 |
| Wilmington, NC | $48,970 | 480 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $47,980 | 320 |
| Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $47,730 | 540 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $47,620 | 380 |
| Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $46,610 | 620 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $46,380 | 150 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in North Carolina is shown; an area that crosses state lines is listed under the first state in its BLS title.
How many substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors work in North Carolina?
BLS counts 10,300 jobs in North Carolina, 2.1% of the 491,930 in the U.S. That is the 14th largest count among the 51 states and territories with a published figure. That is 2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in North Carolina, a location quotient of 0.66: the occupation's share of local jobs is 0.66 times its national share, so it is less concentrated here than in the U.S. as a whole.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025 and national file.
Related jobs in North Carolina
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.