Salary · NC · SOC 21-1018

Mental Health Counselor salary in North Carolina, per year and per hour

BLS data for May 2025. Median, mean, and percentile pay for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in North Carolina, with every metro area BLS publishes.

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, released May 15, 2026. Publisher page

Benchmark mental health counselor pay in North Carolina

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Quick answer

The median pay for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in North Carolina was $55,490 a year, or $26.68 an hour, in May 2025 (BLS). The middle 80% earned $37,440 to $86,010. About 10,300 were employed.

Mental Health Counselor pay in North Carolina vs the US

Mental Health Counselor wages in North Carolina and the US, May 2025
Measure	NC annual	NC hourly	US annual
Median (50th percentile)	$55,490	$26.68	$59,350
Mean (average)	$59,160	$28.44	$64,440
10th percentile	$37,440	$18.00	$38,940
25th percentile	$45,100	$21.68	$47,100
75th percentile	$68,610	$32.98	$76,530
90th percentile	$86,010	$41.35	$97,590

Employment in North Carolina: 10,300. Location quotient: 0.66 (1.0 = the national share of jobs).

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page

Mental Health Counselor salary by metro area in North Carolina

Mental Health Counselor median wage by metro area, North Carolina
Metro area	Median annual	Median hourly	Employed
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	$56,130	$26.99	3,380
Raleigh-Cary, NC	$59,600	$28.66	1,400
Asheville, NC	$53,090	$25.52	680
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	$59,560	$28.63	680
Greensboro-High Point, NC	$51,410	$24.72	480
Wilmington, NC	$48,970	$23.55	480
Winston-Salem, NC	$47,620	$22.90	380
Fayetteville, NC	$47,980	$23.07	320
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC	$51,060	$24.55	310
Greenville, NC	$55,490	$26.68	170
Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC	$46,380	$22.30	150
Rocky Mount, NC	$52,060	$25.03	120
Goldsboro, NC	$49,990	$24.03	110
Burlington, NC	$50,440	$24.25	90
Jacksonville, NC	$52,620	$25.30	80
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	$59,280	$28.50	3,760

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page

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Mental Health Counselor salary in North Carolina

Median pay: $55,490 a year ($26.68 an hour)

Middle 80% earn $37,440 to $86,010 a year

Employed: 10,300

BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: Rivvi

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<div style="font:14px/1.45 system-ui,sans-serif;color:#222;border:1px solid #E6E6EE;border-radius:12px;padding:14px 16px;max-width:360px;background:#fff"><div style="font-weight:600;font-size:15px;margin-bottom:6px">Mental Health Counselor salary in North Carolina</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Median pay: <strong>$55,490</strong> a year ($26.68 an hour)</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Middle 80% earn $37,440 to $86,010 a year</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Employed: 10,300</div><div style="margin-top:8px;font-size:12px;color:#555">BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: <a href="https://rivvi.ai/salary/mental-health-counselor/nc" style="color:#3C38C9">Rivvi</a></div></div>

Questions

How much does a Mental Health Counselor make per hour in North Carolina?

The median hourly wage was $26.68 in May 2025, per BLS. The 10th percentile was $18.00 and the 90th was $41.35.

What is the average Mental Health Counselor salary in North Carolina?

BLS reports a mean (average) of $59,160 a year and a median of $55,490 for May 2025. The median is the middle wage; the mean is pulled up by the highest earners.

Do substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in North Carolina earn more than the US median?

The North Carolina median of $55,490 is 7% lower than the US median of $59,350 (BLS, May 2025).

How does North Carolina rank for mental health counselor pay?

North Carolina ranks 39 of 51 states (plus DC) by median annual wage for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors (BLS, May 2025).

Where do these numbers come from?

The BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates, SOC 21-1018. Figures BLS did not publish are left out.