Registered Nurses Employment & Job Outlook in North Carolina (2024)

North Carolina employs 104,380 Registered Nurses professionals, above the national average concentration.

Data: BLS OEWS 2024 • North Carolina employment outlook • Updated 2026-04-06

Total Employed
104,380
professionals
Jobs per 1,000
104.38
workers
Location Quotient
1.68
vs national avg
Average Salary
$82K
annual

High Demand in North Carolina

The location quotient (LQ) of 1.68 indicates that North Carolina has a higher-than-average concentration of Registered Nurses professionals. This means the job is in high demand relative to other states, suggesting strong local job market opportunities.

Note: Location Quotient (LQ) is the ratio of the percentage of workers in an occupation in a given area to the percentage in that occupation nationwide. An LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration; < 1.0 means below-average.

North Carolina vs National Average

Total Employed
104,380
National: 3,175,440
3.3% of national
Jobs per 1,000
104.38
National: 62.26
+67.7%
Average Salary
$82K
National: $89K
-7.9%

Top States by Registered Nurses Employment

#1
332,560
332,560
employed
#2
251,840
251,840
employed
#3
207,910
207,910
employed
#4
188,060
188,060
employed
#5
144,100
144,100
employed
#6
139,910
139,910
employed
#7
133,300
133,300
employed
#8
104,380
104,380
employed
#9
102,240
102,240
employed
#10
93,730
93,730
employed

What Does a Registered Nurses Earn in North Carolina?

The average annual salary for a Registered Nurses in North Carolina is $82,530. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.

View full salary breakdown →

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many Registered Nurses jobs are there in North Carolina?

North Carolina employs approximately 104,380 Registered Nurses professionals (2024 BLS data). This ranks North Carolina among the top states nationwide.

Is Registered Nurses in demand in North Carolina?

Yes — North Carolina has above-average concentration of Registered Nurses jobs (LQ: 1.68). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.

What is the average salary for Registered Nurses in North Carolina?

The average (mean) salary for Registered Nurses in North Carolina is $82530/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.

What is a Location Quotient (LQ)?

Location Quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is in a state compared to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means the state has more of that job proportionally. LQ > 1.2 indicates strong demand.

Which states employ the most Registered Nurses professionals?

The top state for Registered Nurses employment is California with 332,560 jobs.

Related Pages

Data Source

Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Registered Nurses (SOC 291141) in North Carolina.

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Rankings
Highest Paying Jobs Jobs Over $100K Average Salary All Jobs in North Carolina Career Progression Hourly Wages Employment Outlook