Updated May 2026 · BLS OEWS 2024 reference period
52 Highest Paying Jobs in North Carolina (2026)
The highest-paying job in North Carolina is Computer and Information Systems Manager with a state-aggregated median salary of $170,923 as of 2026, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data weighted across the state's 2 BLS-tracked metros. Across all 52 occupations the average median is $98,676, with 25 occupations paying a six-figure ($100K+) median. North Carolina's average cost-of-living index is 98, so the average median equates to $100,690 of buying power in an average-cost U.S. metro.
Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs in North Carolina
Ranked by state-aggregated median (50th percentile) salary, employment-weighted across North Carolina's 2 BLS-tracked metros.
State median $170,923 · 13,440 jobs · top metro: Charlotte ($172,100)
Computer and Information Systems Managers in North Carolina earn $170,923 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Charlotte) pays $172,100 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $166,010 · 12,090 jobs · top metro: Charlotte ($167,470)
Financial Managers in North Carolina earn $166,010 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Charlotte) pays $167,470 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $160,549 · 6,110 jobs · top metro: Raleigh ($163,820)
Marketing Managers in North Carolina earn $160,549 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Raleigh) pays $163,820 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $142,214 · 3,380 jobs · top metro: Charlotte ($143,360)
Human Resources Managers in North Carolina earn $142,214 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Charlotte) pays $143,360 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $142,070 · 8,980 jobs · top metro: Charlotte ($144,770)
Sales Managers in North Carolina earn $142,070 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Charlotte) pays $144,770 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $139,673 · 4,140 jobs · top metro: Charlotte ($139,950)
Pharmacists in North Carolina earn $139,673 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Charlotte) pays $139,950 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $133,151 · 9,630 jobs · top metro: Charlotte ($137,270)
Lawyers in North Carolina earn $133,151 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Charlotte) pays $137,270 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $131,830 · 32,300 jobs · top metro: Charlotte ($132,100)
Software Developers in North Carolina earn $131,830 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Charlotte) pays $132,100 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $130,921 · 2,570 jobs · top metro: Raleigh ($131,320)
Nurse Practitioners in North Carolina earn $130,921 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Raleigh) pays $131,320 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $129,921 · 3,800 jobs · top metro: Charlotte ($132,110)
Physician Assistants in North Carolina earn $129,921 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Charlotte) pays $132,110 median, materially above the state aggregate.
Full Ranking: All 52 Tracked Occupations
| Rank | Role | Category | State Median | Top Metro | Top Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Computer and Information Systems Manager | Technology | $170,923 | Charlotte | $172,100 | 13,440 |
| 2 | Financial Manager | Finance | $166,010 | Charlotte | $167,470 | 12,090 |
| 3 | Marketing Manager | Management | $160,549 | Raleigh | $163,820 | 6,110 |
| 4 | Human Resources Manager | Management | $142,214 | Charlotte | $143,360 | 3,380 |
| 5 | Sales Manager | Management | $142,070 | Charlotte | $144,770 | 8,980 |
| 6 | Pharmacist | Healthcare | $139,673 | Charlotte | $139,950 | 4,140 |
| 7 | Lawyer | Legal | $133,151 | Charlotte | $137,270 | 9,630 |
| 8 | Software Developer | Technology | $131,830 | Charlotte | $132,100 | 32,300 |
| 9 | Nurse Practitioner | Healthcare | $130,921 | Raleigh | $131,320 | 2,570 |
| 10 | Physician Assistant | Healthcare | $129,921 | Charlotte | $132,110 | 3,800 |
| 11 | Computer Network Architect | Technology | $123,558 | Charlotte | $129,640 | 4,210 |
| 12 | Information Security Analyst | Technology | $123,021 | Charlotte | $127,840 | 3,590 |
| 13 | Electrical Engineer | Engineering | $122,675 | Raleigh | $130,900 | 3,180 |
| 14 | Data Scientist | Technology | $121,620 | Charlotte | $131,110 | 5,810 |
| 15 | Engineers (Other) | Engineering | $117,002 | Charlotte | $125,340 | 2,210 |
| 16 | Computer Occupations (Other) | Technology | $112,593 | Raleigh | $114,300 | 6,510 |
| 17 | Computer Systems Analyst | Technology | $108,522 | Charlotte | $110,020 | 14,070 |
| 18 | General and Operations Manager | Management | $108,240 | Charlotte | $108,600 | 31,310 |
| 19 | Medical and Health Services Manager | Healthcare | $107,132 | Raleigh | $111,120 | 5,780 |
| 20 | Personal Financial Advisor | Finance | $106,470 | Raleigh | $106,470 | 1,910 |
| 21 | Software Quality Assurance Tester | Technology | $105,190 | Raleigh | $106,290 | 4,360 |
| 22 | Financial Analyst | Finance | $103,387 | Charlotte | $104,360 | 6,920 |
| 23 | Industrial Engineer | Engineering | $102,021 | Charlotte | $102,110 | 4,300 |
| 24 | Mechanical Engineer | Engineering | $101,512 | Raleigh | $102,750 | 4,280 |
| 25 | Software Quality Assurance Analyst | Technology | $100,670 | Raleigh | $124,490 | 120 |
| 26 | Financial Examiner | Finance | $99,832 | Charlotte | $102,780 | 1,960 |
| 27 | Network Architect | Technology | $99,313 | Raleigh | $100,470 | 6,210 |
| 28 | Civil Engineer | Engineering | $98,899 | Charlotte | $100,040 | 7,910 |
| 29 | Physical Therapist | Healthcare | $97,968 | Charlotte | $100,310 | 3,030 |
| 30 | Management Analyst | Management | $97,046 | Charlotte | $104,760 | 12,710 |
| 31 | Dental Hygienist | Healthcare | $94,833 | Raleigh | $96,850 | 2,850 |
| 32 | Speech-Language Pathologist | Healthcare | $93,296 | Charlotte | $99,390 | 2,190 |
| 33 | Web Developer | Technology | $91,715 | Charlotte | $96,450 | 1,670 |
| 34 | Architect | Engineering | $90,394 | Raleigh | $97,450 | 1,950 |
| 35 | Registered Nurse | Healthcare | $84,810 | Raleigh | $84,870 | 38,260 |
| 36 | Accountant | Finance | $83,874 | Charlotte | $85,450 | 23,480 |
| 37 | Market Research Analyst | Management | $79,185 | Raleigh | $79,600 | 15,720 |
| 38 | Computer Network Support Specialist | Technology | $76,590 | Raleigh | $76,590 | 650 |
| 39 | Loan Officer | Finance | $76,582 | Charlotte | $81,160 | 6,280 |
| 40 | Business Professor (Postsecondary) | Education | $72,200 | Raleigh | $81,370 | 650 |
| 41 | Writer/Author | Creative | $67,965 | Raleigh | $74,820 | 1,060 |
| 42 | Public Relations Specialist | Creative | $67,427 | Charlotte | $69,410 | 4,570 |
| 43 | Clinical Laboratory Technologist | Healthcare | $59,755 | Charlotte | $60,370 | 3,480 |
| 44 | Secondary School Teacher | Education | $57,993 | Charlotte | $58,050 | 13,840 |
| 45 | Elementary School Teacher | Education | $57,179 | Raleigh | $58,010 | 16,490 |
| 46 | Plumber | Trades | $55,554 | Raleigh | $55,560 | 6,730 |
| 47 | Electrician | Trades | $55,430 | Charlotte | $55,790 | 10,210 |
| 48 | Paralegal | Legal | $55,022 | Raleigh | $57,620 | 5,890 |
| 49 | Welder | Trades | $53,833 | Raleigh | $54,080 | 4,820 |
| 50 | Graphic Designer | Creative | $51,832 | Raleigh | $59,910 | 3,610 |
| 51 | Automotive Technician | Trades | $51,509 | Raleigh | $52,430 | 11,060 |
| 52 | Carpenter | Trades | $50,266 | Charlotte | $50,810 | 5,720 |
Why These Roles Pay the Most in North Carolina
North Carolina's pay distribution reflects Charlotte's banking sector and the Raleigh-Durham research-triangle biotech and tech cluster. Below-average cost of living combined with strong technical wages produces favorable COL-adjusted pay.
$North Carolina tracks $2 BLS-published metros covering approximately $408,000 workers across the $52 occupations on this page. State-aggregated medians are employment-weighted across metros, which is the right way to read "state pay" when BLS publishes by metro. The Computer and Information Systems Manager top spot reflects Charlotte pulling the upper end of the distribution; smaller metros in North Carolina typically pay 10–25% less for the same role.
Metro-by-Metro Detail
For salary data specific to one metro within North Carolina, see:
Frequently Asked Questions
The highest paying job in North Carolina is Computer and Information Systems Manager with a state median salary of $170,923. The top-paying metro for this role is Charlotte at $172,100 median. The role employs roughly 13,440 workers across North Carolina.
25 of the 52 BLS-tracked occupations in North Carolina have a state-aggregated median salary of $100,000 or higher. That places this state in the upper tier nationally for high-paying occupations.
Across 52 BLS-tracked occupations, the average median salary in North Carolina is $98,676. The figure is employment-weighted across 2 metros, so larger occupations and larger metros contribute proportionally more. Cost-of-living-adjusted to a national-average baseline, it equates to $100,690.
BLS OEWS publishes wage data by Metropolitan Statistical Area. For North Carolina, this page aggregates Raleigh, Charlotte. Some non-MSA areas (small towns, rural counties) are excluded from OEWS metro tables but covered in BLS state-level summaries; we use metro-level data to preserve the percentile granularity.
Every wage figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program at bls.gov/oes — public domain federal survey data covering about 1.2 million U.S. employers. State aggregates are computed by employment-weighting metro-level percentile wages across the BLS-tracked metros in North Carolina.
Related Pages
State aggregates are employment-weighted across the BLS-tracked metros in North Carolina, using OEWS 2024 data.