Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers Salary in Raleigh, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Raleigh-Cary, NC

Median annual salary $55,470 -7.6% vs national
Median hourly $26.67
10th percentile $37,090
90th percentile $99,360
National median $60,060

Compare Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Raleigh, NC stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
in
Raleigh, NC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $37,090
    25th
    $47,130
    50th (median)
    $55,470
    75th
    $70,470
    90th
    $99,360

    Raleigh economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $96,066 2023 • Census ACS
    Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary vs area income 58% Median Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary is 42% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Cheyenne, WY $118,900
    San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $116,630
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $102,760
    Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area $101,100
    Vallejo, CA $98,680
    Las Cruces, NM $97,490

    Nearby metros — Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Grand Junction, CO $80,030
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $78,660
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $77,260
    Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area $70,740
    Trenton-Princeton, NJ $67,040
    Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $66,030

    Related occupations in Raleigh, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Social and Human Service Assistants$38,960
    Child, Family, and School Social Workers$62,540
    Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$62,460
    Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$60,350
    Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other$59,600
    Healthcare Social Workers$68,520

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers make per hour in Raleigh?

    The median hourly wage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Raleigh, NC is $26.67, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $45.68 or more per hour.

    Is Raleigh above or below average for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salaries?

    The median Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary in Raleigh, NC is 7.6% below the national median of $60,060. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Raleigh?

    Entry-level Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers (10th percentile) earn around $37,090 per year in Raleigh, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $47,130.