Counsel individuals with mental health disorders, substance abuse, and life challenges. Median salary in Winston-Salem: $48K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.
Figures represent annual base salary in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial · How we calculate this →
Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above — specific to this role and city.
Mental Health Counselors in Winston-Salem earn approximately 14% lower than the US national median for this role — a $8,000 discount on annual base salary. Winston-Salem's lower wage level partially reflects the area's cost-of-living index of 85 (US avg = 100).
Average 1-bedroom rent in Winston-Salem ($1,100/mo) consumes approximately 42% of an after-tax median Mental Health Counselor salary. Financial planners typically recommend keeping housing under 30% of take-home — a salary at the 75th percentile ($63K) brings that ratio into a more comfortable range here.
Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $48K by 2030.
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The median Mental Health Counselor salary in Winston-Salem, NC is $48,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Winston-Salem–NC metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.
Entry-level Mental Health Counselors in Winston-Salem with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $36,000 and $48,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $48,000 to $63,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $63,000 to $83,000 or more.
Winston-Salem has a cost of living index of 85 compared to the US national average of 100. This means your salary goes approximately 15% further in Winston-Salem than the national average. North Carolina has a 4.75% state income tax rate.
Master's in Counseling or Psychology; state license. 50% of these roles offer some remote flexibility.