Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors · North Carolina

Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in North Carolina

Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in North Carolina earn a median annual wage of $55,490 —6.5% below the national median of $59,350. That ranks NC #39 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$55,490
Median hourly
$26.68
Entry level (P10)
$37,440
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$86,010
90th percentile
Employment
10,300
2.1 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-6.5%
U.S. $59,350

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$37,440
$45,100
$55,490
$68,610
$37,440$55,490$86,010
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $55,490.

Employment is only 0.66× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in North Carolina.

Highest-paying states for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. North Carolina is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Alaska$80,770$38.831,2901.26
2Oregon$74,590$35.868,1601.31
3New Mexico$74,100$35.632,4200.88
4Washington$68,910$33.1314,2501.27
5North Dakota$68,630$33.001,2900.95
6Arizona$65,300$31.399,9900.97
7Rhode Island$65,120$31.312,1701.37
8Utah$63,890$30.726,3201.15
9Nebraska$63,770$30.662,1700.67
10Connecticut$63,590$30.577,5401.41

Related occupations in North Carolina

Occupations in the same job family, compared within North Carolina.

Frequently asked questions

How much do substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors make in North Carolina?

The median annual wage for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in North Carolina is $55,490, or $26.68 per hour. That is 6.5% below the national median of $59,350.

What is the entry-level substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors salary in North Carolina?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $37,440 per year ($18.00/hour). The 25th percentile is $45,100.

How many people work as substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in North Carolina?

About 10,300 people work in this occupation in North Carolina, or 2.1 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is North Carolina a good state for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors?

North Carolina ranks #39 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.66x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in North Carolina.

Which state pays substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors the most?

Alaska has the highest median wage at $80,770 per year, followed by Oregon ($74,590) and New Mexico ($74,100).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes