Comprehensive salary overview for North Carolina based on 4,854,510 workers across 747 occupations tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024
These are the highest paying occupations in North Carolina based on median annual salary from BLS data.
| # | Occupation | Median Salary | Mean Salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Physicians, All Other | $236,970 | $243,130 | 14,510 |
| 2 | Family Medicine Physicians | $227,310 | $226,820 | 1,940 |
| 3 | Nurse Anesthetists | $226,460 | $226,030 | 2,820 |
| 4 | Podiatrists | $221,370 | $233,250 | 270 |
| 5 | Dentists, All Other Specialists | $213,380 | $197,390 | 100 |
| 6 | Pediatricians, General | $201,400 | $201,610 | 1,110 |
| 7 | Dentists, General | $191,280 | $205,990 | 4,410 |
| 8 | Physicists | $170,690 | $152,640 | 170 |
| 9 | Computer and Information Systems Managers | $167,550 | $174,970 | 24,230 |
| 10 | Natural Sciences Managers | $167,430 | $182,560 | 6,750 |
| 11 | Architectural and Engineering Managers | $163,430 | $166,960 | 6,050 |
| 12 | Financial Manager | $160,340 | $176,900 | 21,170 |
| 13 | Marketing Manager | $156,650 | $162,740 | 11,020 |
| 14 | Airline Pilot | $154,360 | $149,350 | 4,310 |
| 15 | Optometrists | $153,750 | $159,420 | 1,400 |
| 16 | Medical Dosimetrists | $141,090 | $141,840 | 130 |
| 17 | Psychologists, All Other | $137,130 | $122,490 | 480 |
| 18 | Pharmacist | $136,000 | $134,030 | 11,440 |
| 19 | Sales Manager | $134,860 | $157,770 | 18,020 |
| 20 | Human Resources Manager | $134,170 | $150,520 | 6,520 |
| 21 | Advertising and Promotions Managers | $132,410 | $142,040 | 130 |
| 22 | Managers, All Other | $131,990 | $143,010 | 21,150 |
| 23 | Computer Hardware Engineers | $131,600 | $137,020 | 1,250 |
| 24 | Software Developer | $131,000 | $131,780 | 57,590 |
| 25 | Database Architects | $130,560 | $129,750 | 4,060 |
The 10 lowest paying occupations in North Carolina by median annual salary.
| Occupation | Median Salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Shampooers | $23,040 | N/A |
| Amusement and Recreation Attendants | $24,760 | 14,460 |
| Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials | $25,070 | 480 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,300 | 9,190 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $26,560 | 13,870 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,750 | 89,140 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $27,040 | 4,550 |
| Gambling Change Persons and Booth Cashiers | $27,260 | 50 |
| Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers | $27,300 | 4,350 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $27,320 | 4,950 |
The most common jobs in North Carolina by total number of workers.
| Occupation | Workers | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | 126,060 | $30,090 |
| Cashiers | 115,170 | $27,930 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 113,330 | $36,080 |
| Registered Nurse | 108,510 | $81,860 |
| Customer Service Representatives | 91,980 | $39,530 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | 89,140 | $26,750 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 88,230 | $35,350 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 85,120 | $28,760 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 74,110 | $28,460 |
| General and Operations Managers | 72,250 | $99,190 |
See how average salaries in North Carolina compare to other states across the country.
All salary data on this page comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2024 estimates. The average salary shown is the mean across all tracked occupations weighted by employment. For methodology details, see our Methodology page.