Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors Salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
The median pay for a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC is $58,590/year ($28.17/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $93K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.57), that's roughly $60,049 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,711/month — about 43.6% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $59K get you in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Durham-Chapel Hill’s Regional Price Parity (97.57). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Entry-level substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $93K or more, a $51K spread from bottom to top.
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $79K | +34% | 1,060 |
| New Mexico | $71K | +20% | 2,070 |
| Oregon | $70K | +18% | 6,410 |
| North Dakota | $66K | +12% | 1,180 |
| District of Columbia | $66K | +12% | 980 |
| Utah | $66K | +11% | 4,720 |
| Idaho | $65K | +10% | 2,130 |
| New Jersey | $65K | +9% | 14,640 |
| Nebraska | $64K | +9% | 1,980 |
| Washington | $64K | +8% | 13,150 |
| Arizona | $64K | +8% | 8,970 |
| Connecticut | $63K | +6% | 6,470 |
| Wisconsin | $62K | +6% | 9,450 |
| New York | $62K | +5% | 22,450 |
| Wyoming | $62K | +4% | 840 |
| California | $61K | +4% | 63,110 |
| Maine | $61K | +3% | 1,610 |
| Iowa | $61K | +3% | 3,030 |
| Texas | $61K | +2% | 19,520 |
| Vermont | $60K | +2% | 1,150 |
| Illinois | $60K | +1% | 18,170 |
| Michigan | $60K | +1% | 11,090 |
| Nevada | $59K | +0% | 2,240 |
| Massachusetts | $59K | -0% | 17,950 |
| Minnesota | $59K | -1% | 7,910 |
| Montana | $59K | -1% | 1,900 |
| Oklahoma | $59K | -1% | 4,460 |
| New Hampshire | $59K | -1% | 3,100 |
| Virginia | $58K | -1% | 16,860 |
| Pennsylvania | $58K | -1% | 26,510 |
| Maryland | $58K | -2% | 8,180 |
| Kansas | $58K | -2% | 2,410 |
| Ohio | $57K | -4% | 16,690 |
| Florida | $57K | -4% | 24,680 |
| Missouri | $57K | -4% | 7,500 |
| North Carolina | $56K | -5% | 8,930 |
| Georgia | $55K | -7% | 8,680 |
| Hawaii | $54K | -8% | 1,580 |
| South Dakota | $53K | -10% | 1,510 |
| Kentucky | $52K | -13% | 8,030 |
| South Carolina | $51K | -14% | 4,680 |
| Arkansas | $50K | -16% | 2,860 |
| Rhode Island | $50K | -16% | 1,560 |
| Delaware | $50K | -16% | 1,240 |
| Indiana | $49K | -17% | 10,400 |
| Alabama | $49K | -17% | 3,340 |
| Tennessee | $48K | -19% | 7,310 |
| Mississippi | $47K | -21% | 2,220 |
| West Virginia | $47K | -21% | 1,970 |
| Louisiana | $40K | -32% | 6,600 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Durham-Chapel Hill numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median is $58,590 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,240, and experienced substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors can clear $93,390. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in Durham-Chapel Hill?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,873/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,711/month, which eats 44.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors salary go in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Durham-Chapel Hill has a Regional Price Parity of 97.57 (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 substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors salary is worth about $60,049 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors 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.