2023 Salary Report for Substance Abuse Counselors in North Carolina

Salary Report for North Carolina Substance Abuse Counselors

North Carolina Rankings

Compare North Carolina to U.S.

North Carolina Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $52,850 which is 1% less than the national average salary of $53,490.

Type	North Carolina	U.S.	% Difference
Average Hourly Wage	$25.41	$25.72	-1.21%
Average Annual Salary	$52,850	$53,490	-1.20%

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In North Carolina, 50% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn between $38,520 and $61,190 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.

About 10% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn more than $76,670, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Substance Abuse Counselors.

Approximately 10% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn under $29,960, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Substance Abuse Counselors.

Percent	Experience	Employed	Annual Salary
10%	Less than a Year	833	Under $29,960
15%	2 – 4 years	1,250	$29,960 – $38,520
25%	5 – 9 years	2,082	$38,520 – $48,640
25%	10 – 14 years	2,082	$48,640 – $61,190
15%	15 – 20 years	1,250	$48,640 – $76,670
10%	20+ years	833	Above $76,670

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Substance Abuse Counselors in North Carolina psychologists earn about $57,546 per year which is less than the average U.S. psychologist of $53,490.

Cost-of-living in North Carolina is 8% less than the national average, which means North Carolina residents have an overall less cost for food, housing, utilities and transportation compared to other states.

More cost-of-living reports for U.S. States.

Salary Compared to Related Professions

With an average annual salary of $52,850, North Carolina Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn less than Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($94,480), Forensic Psychologists ($87,210), Psychology Teachers ($80,960), School Psychologists ($65,110), and Health Care Social Workers ($62,540).

However, Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn more than Marriage and Family Therapists ($46,900), and Social Workers ($51,060).

Title	Annual Salary
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$94,480
Forensic Psychologists	$87,210
Psychology Teachers	$80,960
School Psychologists	$65,110
Health Care Social Workers	$62,540
Substance Abuse Counselors	$52,850
Social Workers	$51,060
Marriage and Family Therapists	$46,900

Projected Demand for Psychologists in 2030

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in North Carolina the three professions needing the most new psychologists by 2030 are Social Workers (14,160), Substance Abuse Counselors (11,610) and Health Care Social Workers (3,600).

The three professions in North Carolina needing highest percentage new psychologists by 2030 are Marriage and Family Therapists (24.4%), Substance Abuse Counselors (23.9%) and Social Workers (13.9%).

Title	2020	2030	Change	Yearly Openings
Social Workers	12,430	14,160	13.9%	1,390
Substance Abuse Counselors	9,370	11,610	23.9%	1,190
Health Care Social Workers	3,170	3,600	13.6%	350
Forensic Psychologists	1,800	1,960	8.9%	140
Psychology Teachers	1,040	1,140	9.6%	110
Marriage and Family Therapists	450	560	24.4%	60
Industrial Organizational Psychologists	190	200	5.3%	20

Salaries Ranked by North Carolina Cities

The average salary for Substance Abuse Counselors in North Carolina is $52,850. The top cities that pay Substance Abuse Counselors the most are Raleigh ($58,070), Northeast Coastal North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area ($55,100) and Durham-Chapel Hill ($54,930).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Substance Abuse Counselors the highest average annual salary are Northeast Coastal North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area ($63,751), Mountain North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area ($62,397) and Raleigh ($60,705).

The following table shows the average yearly salary range for Substance Abuse Counselors in each city, and the average yearly salary after being adjusted for cost-of-living in that state.

The difference column shows how much more or less purchasing power a Substance Abuse Counselors salary will have in that area.

Area	Average Salary	COL Adjusted	Difference
Raleigh	$58,070	$60,705	$2,635
Northeast Coastal North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area	$55,100	$63,751	$8,651
Durham-Chapel Hill	$54,930	$58,542	$3,612
Greenville	$53,970	$59,662	$5,692
Mountain North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area	$53,930	$62,397	$8,467
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia	$53,660	$56,735	$3,075
Greensboro-High Point	$52,590	$58,175	$5,585
Asheville	$51,680	$56,119	$4,439
Winston-Salem	$51,550	$57,908	$6,358
Piedmont North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area	$50,870	$58,857	$7,987
Goldsboro	$50,630	$56,792	$6,162
Fayetteville	$50,100	$55,791	$5,691
Wilmington	$50,020	$52,399	$2,379
Rocky Mount	$49,620	$58,549	$8,929
Burlington	$49,020	$54,280	$5,260
Southeast Coastal North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area	$48,320	$55,907	$7,587
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton	$47,500	$54,187	$6,687
Jacksonville	$46,820	$51,592	$4,772
New Bern	$44,750	$50,067	$5,317

Salary FAQ for North Carolina Substance Abuse Counselors

City and Rural Summaries

Official Data Sources for Substance Abuse Counselors: Salary Data | Projected Employment | Cost of Living Data