Salaries › Substance Abuse Counselor › North Carolina
Substance Abuse Counselor Salary in North Carolina (2026)
$26.68 per hour · take-home ≈ $45,061/year ($3,755/month) for a single filer
Substance Abuse Counselor pay range in North Carolina
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $37,440 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $45,100 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $55,490 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $68,610 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $86,010 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 10,300 Substance Abuse Counselor jobs in North Carolina (occupation code 21-1018, “Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors”).
Gross vs. take-home in North Carolina
A median Substance Abuse Counselor salary of $55,490 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus North Carolina state income tax, a single filer keeps about $45,061 — an effective tax rate of 18.8%.
| Gross (median) | $55,490 |
| Federal income tax | −$4,479 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$4,245 |
| North Carolina state income tax | −$1,705 |
| Take-home (annual) | $45,061 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,755 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free North Carolina paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Substance Abuse Counselor make in North Carolina?
- The median Substance Abuse Counselor salary in North Carolina is $55,490 per year ($26.68 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $45,100 and $68,610.
- What is the take-home pay for a Substance Abuse Counselor in North Carolina?
- On the median salary of $55,490, a single filer in North Carolina takes home about $45,061 per year ($3,755 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 18.8%.
- How many Substance Abuse Counselor jobs are there in North Carolina?
- BLS counts 10,300 Substance Abuse Counselor jobs in North Carolina in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Substance Abuse Counselors
Other salaries in North Carolina
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified North Carolina state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for North Carolina.