Benchmark Salary Information

  • The number of Substance Abuse Counselors currently employed in Raleigh is 1,070.
  • Substance Abuse Counselors in Raleigh earn an average of $58,070 per year or $27.92 per hour.
  • The percentage of North Carolina Substance Abuse Counselors who work in Raleigh is 13%.
  • The percentage of U.S. Substance Abuse Counselors who work in Raleigh is less than 1%.

Rankings for Raleigh

  • Ranks #1 in North Carolina for salary and #1 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Ranks #2 in North Carolina for the number of psychologists employed.
  • Ranks #68 in the nation for salary and #160 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Ranks #52 in the nation for the number of psychologists employed.

Compared to North Carolina

Raleigh Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $58,070 or $27.92 per hour which is 9% more than the North Carolina average salary of $52,850.

AverageRaleighNorth Carolina% Difference
Hourly Wage$27.92$25.419.88%
Annual Salary$58,070$52,8509.88%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Compared to the U.S.

Raleigh Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $58,070 or $27.92 per hour which is 8% more than the U.S. average salary of $53,490.

AverageRaleighU.S.%
Hourly Wage$27.92$25.728.55%
Annual Salary$58,070$53,4908.56%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

When adjusted for cost-of-living, Substance Abuse Counselors in Raleigh earns an average annual salary of $60,705 which compares to the North Carolina average annual salary of $52,850. per year.

Cost-of-living in Raleigh is 4% less than the North Carolina average, which means Raleigh residents have an overall less cost for food, housing, utilities and transportation compared to North Carolina average.

  • North Carolina average salary is $52,850.
  • North Carolina cost-of-living adjusted salary is $57,546.
  • Raleigh average salary is $58,070.
  • Raleigh cost-of-living adjusted salary is $60,705.
LocationAverage Annual WageCost of LivingAdjusted COL Wage
Raleigh$58,07095.66%$60,705
North Carolina$52,85091.84%$57,546
U.S.$53,490$53,490
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary Ranges for Education and Experience

In Raleigh, 50% of Substance Abuse Counselors earn between $39,000 and $63,310 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 $80,390, which is a rate for highly skilled, experienced and educated 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.

PercentExperienceEmployedAnnual Salary
10%Less than a Year107Under $29,960
15%2 – 4 years160$29,960 – $39,000
25%5 – 9 years268$39,000 – $49,670
25%10 – 14 years268$49,670 – $63,310
15%15 – 20 years160$49,670 – $80,390
10%20+ years107Above $80,390
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary Compared to Related Professions

With an average annual salary of $58,070, Raleigh Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn less than Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($100,280), School Psychologists ($76,830), Health Care Social Workers ($68,200), and Psychology Teachers ($62,040).

However, Substance Abuse Counselors tend to earn more than Marriage and Family Therapists ($48,450), and Social Workers ($52,760).

TitleAnnual Salary
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$100,280
School Psychologists$76,830
Health Care Social Workers$68,200
Psychology Teachers$62,040
Substance Abuse Counselors$58,070
Social Workers$52,760
Marriage and Family Therapists$48,450
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

FAQ for Raleigh Substance Abuse Counselors

The number of Substance Abuse Counselors currently employed in Raleigh is 1,070.

Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $58,070 per year or $27.92 per hour in Raleigh.

When adjusted for Cost of Living in Raleigh Substance Abuse Counselors earn an average of $60,705 per year or $29 per hour.

The types of psychologists that are paid the highest annual salary in Raleigh are Clinical and Counseling Psychologists($100,280), School Psychologists($76,830), Health Care Social Workers($68,200).


Additional Salary Reports for Substance Abuse Counselors in North Carolina cities and Metros and U.S. States.

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