North Carolina Average Salary 2026
Average pay, top-paying occupations, and cost of living across North Carolina.
The average salary in North Carolina is $98,676 as of 2026, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS 2024 data aggregated across 2 metropolitan areas (Raleigh, Charlotte). The highest-paying tracked occupation in the state is Computer and Information Systems Manager at $170,923 median; 25 occupations pay six-figure ($100K+) medians. Adjusted for the state's average cost-of-living index of 98, the average median equates to $100,690 of purchasing power in an average-cost U.S. metro.
Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs in North Carolina
Computer and Information Systems Manager
Technology · 13,440 jobs in state · top metro: Charlotte ($172,100)
Financial Manager
Finance · 12,090 jobs in state · top metro: Charlotte ($167,470)
Marketing Manager
Management · 6,110 jobs in state · top metro: Raleigh ($163,820)
Human Resources Manager
Management · 3,380 jobs in state · top metro: Charlotte ($143,360)
Sales Manager
Management · 8,980 jobs in state · top metro: Charlotte ($144,770)
Pharmacist
Healthcare · 4,140 jobs in state · top metro: Charlotte ($139,950)
Lawyer
Legal · 9,630 jobs in state · top metro: Charlotte ($137,270)
Software Developer
Technology · 32,300 jobs in state · top metro: Charlotte ($132,100)
Nurse Practitioner
Healthcare · 2,570 jobs in state · top metro: Raleigh ($131,320)
Physician Assistant
Healthcare · 3,800 jobs in state · top metro: Charlotte ($132,110)
Cities in North Carolina
Charlotte, NC
51 occupations tracked · COL index: 96.7
Raleigh, NC
52 occupations tracked · COL index: 99.8
Frequently Asked Questions
The average salary in North Carolina is $98,676 as of 2026, based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics' OEWS 2024 release aggregated across 2 BLS-tracked metros. The figure is employment-weighted, so larger occupations contribute proportionally more to the average. The top-paying role in the state is Computer and Information Systems Manager at $170,923 median.
The top five highest-paying occupations in North Carolina, ranked by employment-weighted median across all tracked metros, are Computer and Information Systems Manager ($170,923), Financial Manager ($166,010), Marketing Manager ($160,549), Human Resources Manager ($142,214), Sales Manager ($142,070). See the full ranking at /ranking/highest-paying-jobs/state/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.
Charlotte, NC leads North Carolina with an average median salary of $99,004 across 51 BLS-tracked occupations.
The average cost-of-living index across North Carolina's tracked metros is 98 (national avg = 100). The state average median of $98,676 translates to $100,690 of purchasing power in an average-cost U.S. metro. Low COL means nominal pay translates to better-than-average buying power.
State aggregates are employment-weighted across the BLS-tracked metros in North Carolina, using the OEWS 2024 reference period.
103 data points · BLS OEWS 2024 · last refreshed 2026-05-08