Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers pay in North Carolina

In North Carolina, the median pay for mental health and substance abuse social workers is $27.98 an hour ($58,210 a year). About 3,690 people work in this job there.

$27.98Median hourly pay

$48,150–$67,460Middle half of workers, yearly

3,690People in this job in North Carolina

That is 3% lower than the U.S. median ($60,280). North Carolina ranks 24th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.

Pay range for mental health and substance abuse social workers in North Carolina

Earns more than	Hourly	Yearly
10% of workers	$18.74	$38,970
25% of workers	$23.15	$48,150
Half of workers (median)	$27.98	$58,210
75% of workers	$32.43	$67,460
90% of workers	$38.33	$79,720

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers pay in North Carolina metro areas

Metro area	Median yearly pay	People in this job
Asheville	$63,400	160
Durham-Chapel Hill	$60,390	340
Winston-Salem	$60,110	140
Rocky Mount	$59,780	60
Greensboro-High Point	$59,550	230
Raleigh-Cary	$59,380	410
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia	$58,090	840
Burlington	$57,880	40
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton	$57,150	140
Goldsboro	$55,660	40
Wilmington	$54,990	200
Fayetteville	$50,150	100
Greenville	$40,520	70

North Carolina unemployment rate: 3.5% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Education, experience and outlook for mental health and substance abuse social workers

Typical education to start: Master's degree (BLS)
Related work experience most have: 2 to 4 years (O*NET)
Training on the job: Internship/residency (BLS)
Job outlook: +10.3% over ten years, much faster than average · about 12,500 openings a year (BLS)

Related jobs in North Carolina

Job	Median yearly pay
Child, Family, and School Social Workers	$59,610
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors	$55,490
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors	$57,630
Social and Human Service Assistants	$42,850
Healthcare Social Workers	$63,280
Rehabilitation Counselors	$45,890
Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other	$54,820
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists	$62,220

Other job titles for this job

Behavior SpecialistCounselorMental Health ClinicianMental Health ProfessionalOutpatient TherapistTreatment CoordinatorClinical TherapistDirect Care CounselorLicensed Clinical Social WorkerAddictions CounselorAlcoholism WorkerBehavioral Case Manager

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.