North Carolina wages
South region · all-occupation average · gross annual wage · BLS OEWS May 2024
Across all occupations, North Carolina has a median annual wage of $46,950 and a mean of $62,440 (BLS OEWS, May 2024) — -5.2% versus the $49,500 US median. That makes it #28 of 51 states by mean wage. About 4,898,270 people are employed here. The highest-paying tracked job in North Carolina is General Internal Medicine Physicians ($239,200+ median). Wages are gross (pre-tax) and vary by employer and experience.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. Data as of OEWS May 2024 (BLS), retrieved June 2026.
Common jobs in North Carolina: pay vs the US
Median annual wage in North Carolina for widely-searched occupations, next to the national median:
| Occupation | North Carolina median | US median | North Carolina jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $131,000 | $133,080 | 57,590 |
| Registered Nurses | $81,860 | $93,600 | 108,510 |
| Electricians | $54,070 | $62,350 | 23,660 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $49,580 | $57,440 | 64,610 |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,490 | $81,680 | 46,420 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $49,400 | $62,340 | 44,040 |
| Lawyers | $124,880 | $151,160 | 17,380 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $50,990 | $62,970 | 14,300 |
| Pharmacists | $136,000 | $137,480 | 11,440 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $58,030 | $76,290 | 21,650 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. Data as of OEWS May 2024 (BLS), retrieved June 2026.
Software Developers · Registered Nurses · Electricians · Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers · Accountants and Auditors · Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education · Lawyers · Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters · Pharmacists · Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
Highest-paying tracked jobs in North Carolina
The best-paid of the 124 curated occupations in North Carolina, by median wage:
| # | Occupation | Median | Mean |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Internal Medicine Physicians | $239,200+ | $268,830 |
| 2 | Family Medicine Physicians | $227,310 | $226,820 |
| 3 | Dentists, General | $191,280 | $205,990 |
| 4 | Computer and Information Systems Managers | $167,550 | $174,970 |
| 5 | Architectural and Engineering Managers | $163,430 | $166,960 |
| 6 | Financial Managers | $160,340 | $176,900 |
| 7 | Marketing Managers | $156,650 | $162,740 |
| 8 | Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $154,360 | $149,350 |
| 9 | Pharmacists | $136,000 | $134,030 |
| 10 | Human Resources Managers | $134,170 | $150,520 |
| 11 | Software Developers | $131,000 | $131,780 |
| 12 | Database Architects | $130,560 | $129,750 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. Data as of OEWS May 2024 (BLS), retrieved June 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average wage in North Carolina?
The median annual wage across all occupations in North Carolina is $46,950 and the mean is $62,440 (BLS OEWS, May 2024), which is -5.2% versus the US median of $49,500. North Carolina ranks #28 of 51 states by mean wage.
What are the highest-paying jobs in North Carolina?
Among tracked occupations, the highest-paying in North Carolina include General Internal Medicine Physicians ($239,200+), Family Medicine Physicians ($227,310), Dentists, General ($191,280). See the full list on this page.
Are North Carolina wages before or after tax?
These are gross wages from the BLS OEWS survey, before income and payroll tax. North Carolina's state income tax (if any), federal tax and deductions reduce take-home pay. Use a paycheck calculator for after-tax figures.
Keep exploring
Sources & accuracy
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024, gross annual wages, U.S. public domain, retrieved June 2026. These are statewide survey estimates before tax; pay varies by metro, employer and experience, and cost of living differs widely within North Carolina. Information only, not financial advice. See our methodology.
Last updated: 2026-06-20