Average salary in North Carolina
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
The average salary in North Carolina is $64,290 a year and the median is $47,970, across 4,941,820 jobs (BLS May 2025). North Carolina ranks #29 of 51 for average pay.
| Average (mean) salary | $64,290 |
| Median salary | $47,970 |
| Median hourly wage | $23.06 |
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $28,580 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $119,640 |
| Take-home on the average salary (single, 2026) | $51,781 |
Highest-paying jobs in North Carolina
- Chief Executive: $314,290
- Physician: $260,330
- Family Medicine Physician: $215,230
- Dentist: $207,000
- Natural Sciences Manager: $173,870
- Computer and Information Systems Manager: $172,860
- Architectural and Engineering Manager: $167,840
- Financial Manager: $166,780
- Marketing Manager: $165,480
- Airline Pilot: $151,540
- Sales Manager: $150,470
- Human Resources Manager: $142,990
- Manager: $141,160
- Pharmacist: $138,860
- Purchasing Manager: $138,710
- Software Engineer: $134,710
- Information Security Analyst: $131,540
- Physician Assistant: $129,360
- Veterinarian: $129,240
- Nurse Practitioner: $128,990
Most common jobs in North Carolina
| Job | Employed | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Retail Salesperson | 127,540 | $31,370 |
| Laborer and Freight | 116,720 | $38,230 |
| Registered Nurse | 111,120 | $84,350 |
| Cashier | 106,440 | $28,880 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | 92,230 | $28,570 |
| Customer Service Representative | 89,510 | $40,240 |
| Stocker and Order Filler | 87,510 | $35,950 |
| Cook | 81,980 | $27,190 |
| Waiter and Waitress | 71,940 | $32,150 |
| Office Clerk | 67,930 | $41,770 |
| CNA | 64,010 | $38,460 |
| General and Operations Manager | 63,740 | $101,950 |
| Truck Driver | 62,400 | $51,530 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aide | 58,880 | $31,240 |
| Software Engineer | 58,470 | $134,710 |
Estimate your own paycheck with the North Carolina paycheck calculator.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all occupations). Highest-paying list covers the 300 largest occupations nationally.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average salary in North Carolina?
$64,290 a year (mean of all jobs), with a median of $47,970 ($23.06/hour), per BLS May 2025. North Carolina ranks #29 of 51.
What are the highest-paying jobs in North Carolina?
Chief Executive ($314,290), Physician ($260,330), Family Medicine Physician ($215,230), among the 300 most common occupations.
What is a good salary in North Carolina?
Earning more than the median of $47,970 puts you above half of North Carolina workers; the top 10% earn over $119,640.