Clinical and Counseling Psychologists Salary
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in North Carolina make a median of $92,130 a year, or about $44.29 an hour. The range runs from $53K at the entry level to $213K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $99,428 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,284/month, or 21.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $92K get you in North Carolina?
About clinical and counseling psychologists
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Clinical and counseling psychologists pay in North Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $92K locally vs. $101K nationwide, a 8% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,284/month, 22.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Carolina
Entry-level clinical and counseling psychologists (10th percentile) start around $53K. Mid-career wages sit at $92K. Top earners bring in $213K or more, a $160K spread from bottom to top.
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists salary by metro in North Carolina
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $117K | +27% | 720 |
| Asheville | $99K | +8% | 100 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $97K | +5% | 520 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $93K | +1% | 270 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | $91K | -1% | 70 |
| Greenville | $90K | -2% | 30 |
| Greensboro-High Point | $81K | -13% | 170 |
| Winston-Salem | $80K | -14% | 150 |
| Fayetteville | $79K | -14% | 80 |
| Wilmington | $77K | -17% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track clinical and counseling psychologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a clinical and counseling psychologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $92K, rent takes 22.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for clinical and counseling psychologists in North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new clinical and counseling psychologists typically earn — is $53K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,173/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 40% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is clinical and counseling psychologist a high-paying job in North Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $92K locally vs. $101K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for clinical and counseling psychologists?
North Carolina pays $92K median vs. the U.S. average of $101K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $99K — below the national median.
How much do clinical and counseling psychologists make in North Carolina?
The median is $92,130 a year, that works out to about $44 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $52,890, and experienced clinical and counseling psychologists can clear $213,160. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $92K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,754/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 22.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a clinical and counseling psychologists salary go in North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median clinical and counseling psychologists salary is worth about $99,428 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do clinical and counseling psychologists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.