Average and median wage in North Carolina
Half of the 4,941,820 workers in North Carolina earn less than $47,970 a year, the median wage, while the average pay is $64,290, or $30.91 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% make $28,580 or less and the top 10% $119,640 or more. The average is 8% less than the U.S. average ($69,770) and the median 6% less than the U.S. median ($50,980).
- $29K10th
- $36K25th
- $48KMedian
- $76K75th
- $120K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | North Carolina per year | Per hour* | U.S. per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $64,290 | $30.91 | $69,770 |
| Median | $47,970 | $23.06 | $50,980 |
| 10th percentile | $28,580 | $13.74 | $31,200 |
| 25th percentile | $36,030 | $17.32 | $37,590 |
| 75th percentile | $75,610 | $36.35 | $80,520 |
| 90th percentile | $119,640 | $57.52 | $128,560 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Statewide figures include every employer in the state, metro and rural. Median vs. average salary · reading percentiles.
Average salary by city in North Carolina
- Durham$79,700
- Raleigh$70,740
- Charlotte$68,900
- Greenville$60,770
- Asheville$60,490
- Greensboro$59,180
- Winston-Salem$59,130
- Wilmington$58,480
- Fayetteville$58,170
- Pinehurst$55,140
- Hickory$54,360
- Burlington$54,240
- Rocky Mount$53,360
- Jacksonville$51,170
- Goldsboro$50,660
Map of North Carolina metro areas
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Salary, take-home pay and cost of living by city
| City | Average | Median | Take-home* | Cost of living | Home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $79,700 | $60,720 | $62,228 | 98 | $414,340 |
| Raleigh | $70,740 | $51,990 | $56,282 | 98 | $438,364 |
| Charlotte | $68,900 | $49,990 | $55,061 | 97 | $390,321 |
| Greenville | $60,770 | $46,560 | $49,093 | 88 | $245,726 |
| Asheville | $60,490 | $46,870 | $48,879 | 97 | $428,742 |
| Greensboro | $59,180 | $46,570 | $47,878 | 93 | $266,370 |
| Winston-Salem | $59,130 | $46,380 | $47,840 | 92 | $283,871 |
| Wilmington | $58,480 | $45,800 | $47,344 | 96 | $446,210 |
| Fayetteville | $58,170 | $45,620 | $47,107 | 92 | $259,183 |
| Pinehurst | $55,140 | $42,920 | $44,793 | 88 | $415,936 |
| Hickory | $54,360 | $45,220 | $44,198 | 88 | $271,739 |
| Burlington | $54,240 | $44,010 | $44,107 | 93 | $298,353 |
| Rocky Mount | $53,360 | $43,960 | $43,435 | 88 | $201,686 |
| Jacksonville | $51,170 | $40,230 | $41,762 | 92 | $293,312 |
| Goldsboro | $50,660 | $40,570 | $41,373 | 88 | $188,523 |
*Average salary after federal and state income tax and payroll taxes for a single filer. Cost of living: BEA price parity, U.S. = 100.
Highest-paying jobs in North Carolina
- Cardiologists · Charlotte$453,420
- Chief Executives · Durham$425,580
- Dermatologists · Greensboro$416,190
- Obstetricians and Gynecologists · Charlotte$402,040
- Chief Executives · Greensboro$393,980
- Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric · Charlotte$391,900
- Chief Executives · Wilmington$348,500
- Chief Executives · Charlotte$346,170
- Physicians, All Other · Greensboro$342,000
- Chief Executives · Raleigh$336,960
Most common jobs in North Carolina
| Job | Jobs statewide | Average | Median | Highest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | 127,540 | $34,230 | $31,370 | $35,410 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 116,720 | $39,390 | $38,230 | $41,640 |
| Registered Nurses | 111,120 | $90,470 | $84,350 | $93,240 |
| Cashiers | 106,440 | $29,390 | $28,880 | $31,390 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 92,230 | $29,050 | $28,570 | $30,280 |
| Customer Service Representatives | 89,510 | $43,450 | $40,240 | $47,060 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 87,510 | $36,950 | $35,950 | $39,300 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | 81,980 | $27,080 | $27,190 | $29,290 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 71,940 | $37,850 | $32,150 | $40,850 |
| Office Clerks, General | 67,930 | $43,140 | $41,770 | $45,480 |
Jobs, average and median: BLS statewide estimates. Highest city average: best-paid metro area we cover in the state.
Average salary by job family in North Carolina
North Carolina income tax and take-home pay
Take-home figures on these pages apply North Carolina's 2026 income tax rules for a single filer with the standard deduction, plus federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security and Medicare.
North Carolina paycheck calculator
- $100K salary after taxes in every stateWhere North Carolina ranks for take-home pay
- Median vs. average salaryWhy North Carolina's median is below its average
Cost of living: North Carolina vs other states
North Carolina at a glance
Average salary in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
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- Missouri
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- New Hampshire
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- Ohio
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- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Salary in North Carolina: questions
What is the average salary in North Carolina?
$64,290 a year across all jobs, according to BLS statewide estimates (OEWS, May 2025). That is 8% less than the U.S. average ($69,770).
What is the median salary in North Carolina?
$47,970 a year: half of North Carolina workers earn more and half earn less. The median is lower than the average because a minority of high earners lifts the average.
What is the average hourly wage in North Carolina?
$30.91 an hour on average, and $23.06 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
Which city in North Carolina pays the most?
Durham, with an average of $79,700 a year among the metro areas we cover.
Is North Carolina expensive to live in?
BEA puts North Carolina prices 6% below the U.S. average (price parity 94.3). Within the state, Raleigh 98, Durham 98, Charlotte 97 are the most expensive metros.
Sources and how to read this page
- Statewide figures: BLS OEWS state estimates, May 2025, all occupations and every employer in the state (metro and rural areas).
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. City figures: the metro areas we cover in North Carolina.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Population and median household income: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2023.
- Crime: FBI Crime Data Explorer, violent and property crimes reported by agencies statewide, latest 12 months available.
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