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Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare Salary in North Carolina: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare salary really buy you in North Carolina?

North Carolina is 5.8% cheaper than the US average

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$57,200
Median annual (2025)
+6.2%
Real Purchasing Power
$60,721
COL-adjusted (RPP=94.2)

North Carolina Cost of Living Index

North Carolina's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 94.2, meaning prices are 5.8% lower the national average. A Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare earning $57,200 in North Carolina has the equivalent purchasing power of $60,721 in an average-cost US state.

NC: 94.2
Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for North Carolina's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $38,480 $40,849 +$2,369
25th Percentile (P25) $46,110 $48,949 +$2,839
Median (P50) $57,200 $60,721 +$3,521
75th Percentile (P75) $69,950 $74,256 +$4,306
90th Percentile (P90) $89,120 $94,607 +$5,487
Key Insight

A Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare in North Carolina earns $57,200 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 6% further — like earning $60,721 in an average-cost state. This makes North Carolina one of the best value states for this occupation.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

North Carolina Sits Near the National Cost Benchmark

RPP 94.2

With an RPP of 94.2, North Carolina is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.

Meaningful Purchasing-Power Shift

+6.2%

After applying North Carolina's RPP, the $57,200 median salary translates to $60,722 in real terms — a 6.2% gain. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare.

Above-Median Adjusted Pay

#20 / 50

North Carolina sits at #20 of 50 states for Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.

Best States for Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare (After Cost of Living)

Where does Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

$89,972
RPP 107.6
2. Alaska
$74,058
RPP 102.0
$72,398
RPP 108.8
$71,863
RPP 88.0
$66,766
RPP 116.6
$64,929
RPP 92.3
7. Utah
$64,529
RPP 94.5
$64,277
RPP 109.4
$64,180
RPP 109.8
10. Indiana
$63,986
RPP 91.8

North Carolina ranks #20 out of 50 states for Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare take-home pay in North Carolina after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare in North Carolina after cost of living?

A Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare in North Carolina earns a median salary of $57,200 per year. After adjusting for North Carolina's cost of living (RPP=94.2), the real purchasing power is $60,721 — a +6.2% difference.

Is North Carolina expensive to live in?

North Carolina's cost of living is 5.8% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for North Carolina is 94.2 (US average = 100).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare in North Carolina: $57,200 x (100 / 94.2) = $60,721. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

Is it better to be a Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare in North Carolina financially?

From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare in North Carolina enjoys 6.2% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.

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