Average Salary in North Carolina
What workers in North Carolina earn: mean and median wages, monthly and hourly pay, the full wage distribution, household income and cost-of-living context. Wage data: BLS OEWS May 2025.
- Mean annual wage$64,290Rank #29 of 51 · US $69,770
- Median annual wage$47,970Rank #36 of 51 · US $50,980
- Mean hourly wage$30.91Median $23.06/hour
- Median monthly pay$3,998Mean $5,358/month
- Median household income$73,958ACS 2024 · rank #37
- Price level (RPP)94.3US = 100 · BEA 2024
What is the average salary in North Carolina?
The average (mean) annual wage across all occupations in North Carolina is $64,290, and the median annual wage is $47,970, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2025 OEWS estimates. The mean is 7.9% below the national mean of $69,770; the median is 5.9% below the national median of $50,980. North Carolina ranks #29 of the 50 states and DC for mean wage and #36 for median wage.
The mean is $16,320 (34%) higher than the median. That gap is normal: a minority of very high earners pulls the average up, so the median is the better guide to what a typical worker in North Carolina earns. Why mean and median differ →
The estimates cover 4,941,820 wage and salary jobs in North Carolina (self-employed workers are not included).
Monthly, weekly and hourly pay in North Carolina
Gross pay before taxes. Monthly = annual ÷ 12, bi-weekly = annual ÷ 26, weekly = annual ÷ 52. Hourly figures are published by BLS.
| Pay period | Mean (average) | Median (typical) |
|---|---|---|
| Annual | $64,290 | $47,970 |
| Monthly | $5,358 | $3,998 |
| Bi-weekly paycheck | $2,473 | $1,845 |
| Weekly | $1,236 | $922 |
| Hourly | $30.91 | $23.06 |
Estimate take-home pay on the North Carolina median wage (2026 tax year) →
What is a good salary in North Carolina?
“Good” depends on your household and where in the state you live, but the wage distribution shows where a salary stands relative to other workers in North Carolina:
| Percentile | Annual | Monthly | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,580 | $2,382 | 90% of workers earn more |
| 25th | $36,030 | $3,002 | 75% earn more |
| 50th (median) | $47,970 | $3,998 | half earn more, half less |
| 75th | $75,610 | $6,301 | top 25% earn more than this |
| 90th | $119,640 | $9,970 | top 10% earn more than this |
In practice, a salary above $47,970 beats more than half of North Carolina workers, about $75,610 puts you in the top quarter, and $119,640 or more puts you in the top 10%. These are individual wages, not household income. Compare percentiles across states →
Household income and earnings in North Carolina
| Measure (ACS 2024) | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $73,958 | $81,604 |
| Median family income | $92,847 | $101,265 |
| Per-capita income | $42,777 | $45,256 |
| Median earnings, all workers with earnings | $43,948 | $46,949 |
| Median earnings, men working full-time year-round | $61,870 | $66,965 |
| Median earnings, women working full-time year-round | $51,711 | $55,678 |
Household income adds up the income of everyone in a household — often two earners, plus Social Security, investment and self-employment income — so it is higher than any per-worker wage figure. Women working full-time year-round in North Carolina have median earnings equal to 84% of men’s. Household income in every state →
Salary vs. cost of living in North Carolina
Prices in North Carolina are about 5.7% below the national average (BEA regional price parity 94.3; housing 81.4). Adjusted for that, the median wage of $47,970 is worth $50,870 at national-average prices (rank #40), and the mean wage is worth $68,176 (rank #25). Cost-of-living adjusted ranking →
North Carolina taxes wage income, so take-home pay is lower than the gross figures above by federal tax, FICA and state income tax.
North Carolina vs. neighboring states
| State | Mean wage | Median wage | RPP | Adjusted median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | $64,290 | $47,970 | 94.3 | $50,870 |
| Georgia | $65,920 | $48,170 | 96.3 | $50,021 |
| South Carolina | $59,280 | $46,490 | 93.7 | $49,616 |
| Tennessee | $60,800 | $47,380 | 91.9 | $51,556 |
| Virginia | $74,040 | $55,690 | 101.1 | $55,084 |
Highest-paying occupations in North Carolina
Detailed occupations with at least 300 jobs in the state, ranked by mean annual wage. “$239,200+” means BLS reports only that the wage is at or above that level.
| Occupation | Mean wage | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anesthesiologists | $239,200+ | $239,200+ | 980 |
| Surgeons, All Other | $377,270 | $398,410 | 480 |
| Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric | $372,620 | $323,630 | 560 |
| Dermatologists | $360,910 | $367,350 | 800 |
| Chief Executives | $347,690 | $314,290 | 1,930 |
| Emergency Medicine Physicians | $340,980 | $339,350 | 710 |
| Physicians, Pathologists | $285,200 | $248,940 | 340 |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | $283,840 | $289,780 | 1,700 |
| Obstetricians and Gynecologists | $249,890 | $134,540 | 590 |
| Physicians, All Other | $247,750 | $260,330 | 14,080 |
Most common jobs in North Carolina and what they pay
| Occupation | Employment | Median wage | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | 127,540 | $31,370 | $15.08 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 116,720 | $38,230 | $18.38 |
| Registered Nurses | 111,120 | $84,350 | $40.56 |
| Cashiers | 106,440 | $28,880 | $13.89 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 92,230 | $28,570 | $13.74 |
| Customer Service Representatives | 89,510 | $40,240 | $19.35 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 87,510 | $35,950 | $17.29 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | 81,980 | $27,190 | $13.07 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 71,940 | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| Office Clerks, General | 67,930 | $41,770 | $20.08 |
The largest occupation in North Carolina is retail salespersons, with 127,540 jobs and a median wage of $31,370. Many of the most common jobs pay well below the state median, which is one reason the overall median sits far below the mean.
Salaries for 54 common occupations in North Carolina
| Occupation | Mean wage | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family Medicine Physician | $220,360 | $215,230 | 1,520 |
| Dentist (General) | $207,550 | $207,000 | 4,140 |
| Financial Manager | $196,240 | $166,780 | 22,460 |
| Marketing Manager | $173,660 | $165,480 | 10,790 |
| Pharmacist | $137,990 | $138,860 | 11,430 |
| Software Developer | $136,940 | $134,710 | 58,470 |
| Information Security Analyst | $130,990 | $131,540 | 8,670 |
| Physician Assistant | $130,030 | $129,360 | 7,490 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $130,870 | $128,990 | 9,800 |
| Lawyer | $160,340 | $127,710 | 17,000 |
| Data Scientist | $121,270 | $119,090 | 11,430 |
| Medical and Health Services Manager | $135,710 | $114,410 | 14,820 |
| Electrical Engineer | $121,380 | $110,130 | 7,090 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $114,330 | $106,850 | 20,910 |
| Construction Manager | $119,310 | $106,640 | 16,310 |
| Financial and Investment Analyst | $109,880 | $102,390 | 12,710 |
| General and Operations Manager | $128,520 | $101,950 | 63,740 |
| Project Management Specialist | $107,630 | $100,820 | 36,200 |
| Civil Engineer | $104,760 | $100,730 | 12,810 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $107,350 | $100,720 | 9,560 |
| Physical Therapist | $100,010 | $99,910 | 7,350 |
| Dental Hygienist | $93,640 | $97,850 | 6,690 |
| Web Developer | $98,380 | $96,610 | 2,030 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrator | $97,580 | $95,230 | 13,850 |
| Occupational Therapist | $91,360 | $92,940 | 4,490 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $88,640 | $86,460 | 5,600 |
| Registered Nurse | $90,470 | $84,350 | 111,120 |
| Accountant and Auditor | $93,810 | $82,050 | 49,270 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $79,450 | $73,070 | 31,140 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN/LVN) | $63,720 | $63,270 | 18,010 |
| Child, Family and School Social Worker | $59,660 | $59,610 | 13,010 |
| Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $61,390 | $59,300 | 22,370 |
| High School Teacher | $55,760 | $57,650 | 28,620 |
| Paralegal and Legal Assistant | $60,770 | $57,500 | 13,650 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $57,910 | $57,490 | 11,070 |
| HVAC Technician | $57,400 | $57,260 | 15,230 |
| Plumber, Pipefitter and Steamfitter | $56,720 | $57,080 | 14,510 |
| Electrician | $56,850 | $56,800 | 21,640 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $54,070 | $54,930 | 42,410 |
| Middle School Teacher | $53,350 | $52,010 | 20,650 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver | $55,810 | $51,530 | 62,400 |
| Welder | $53,720 | $50,590 | 11,750 |
| Correctional Officer | $51,390 | $50,550 | 11,900 |
| Carpenter | $50,510 | $49,100 | 13,480 |
| Automotive Service Technician | $53,510 | $48,200 | 26,510 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting and Auditing Clerk | $49,780 | $47,930 | 48,760 |
| Secretary and Administrative Assistant | $46,200 | $45,790 | 43,690 |
| Medical Assistant | $44,090 | $45,140 | 23,650 |
| Construction Laborer | $45,250 | $44,720 | 35,620 |
| Customer Service Representative | $43,450 | $40,240 | 89,510 |
| Nursing Assistant (CNA) | $39,280 | $38,460 | 64,010 |
| Firefighter | $43,060 | $37,940 | 19,410 |
| Retail Salesperson | $34,230 | $31,370 | 127,540 |
| Cashier | $29,390 | $28,880 | 106,440 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the average salary in North Carolina?
The average (mean) annual wage in North Carolina is $64,290, or $30.91 per hour, based on BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates. The median wage — what a typical worker earns — is $47,970 a year ($23.06 per hour).
What is the average monthly salary in North Carolina?
Dividing the annual figures by 12, the mean wage in North Carolina works out to about $5,358 per month and the median wage to about $3,998 per month, before taxes.
What is considered a good salary in North Carolina?
Earning more than the median of $47,970 puts you above half of all workers in North Carolina. A salary of $75,610 or more is in the top 25%, and $119,640 or more is in the top 10% of wage earners in the state.
What is the median household income in North Carolina?
Median household income in North Carolina was $73,958 in the Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey, compared with $81,604 nationally. Household income combines all earners and income sources in a home.
Does North Carolina have a state income tax on wages?
Yes. North Carolina taxes wage income, so state income tax is deducted from paychecks in addition to federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare.