Highest-Paying Jobs in North Carolina (2025)
Ranking 149 occupations by median salary in North Carolina · Source: BLS OES & H-1B filings
Avg. Median Salary (NC)
$98,310
-3.4% vs national avg
National Median
$101,797
across all states
Total Employed
2.4M+
workers tracked in North Carolina
Top 25 Highest-Paying Jobs in North Carolina
Occupations in North Carolina ranked by median annual salary (2025 BLS OES data).
| Rank | Occupation | Median Salary | vs National | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Surgeon | $398,410 | +5.5% | 480 |
| 2 | Emergency Medicine Physician | $339,350 | -4.1% | 710 |
| 3 | Chief Executive Officer | $314,290 | +47.8% | 2K |
| 4 | Internal Medicine Physician | $289,780 | +11.3% | 2K |
| 5 | Nurse Anesthetist | $224,610 | -8.4% | 3K |
| 6 | Podiatrist | $215,420 | +20.8% | 240 |
| 7 | Family Medicine Physician | $215,230 | -16.5% | 2K |
| 8 | Dentist | $207,000 | +17.8% | 4K |
| 9 | Pediatrician | $183,550 | -14.8% | 740 |
| 10 | Physicist | $174,180 | +13.3% | 150 |
| 11 | Computer and Information Systems Manager | $172,860 | +6.1% | 26K |
| 12 | Psychiatrist | $168,880 | -34.5% | 620 |
| 13 | Engineering Manager | $167,840 | +1.1% | 7K |
| 14 | Financial Manager | $166,780 | +10.6% | 22K |
| 15 | Marketing Manager | $165,480 | +13.0% | 11K |
| 16 | Optometrist | $161,560 | +18.7% | 1K |
| 17 | Airline Pilot | $151,540 | -29.3% | 2K |
| 18 | Sales Manager | $150,470 | +8.0% | 17K |
| 19 | Human Resources Manager | $142,990 | +3.2% | 6K |
| 20 | Pharmacist | $138,860 | -2.8% | 11K |
| 21 | Purchasing Manager | $138,710 | -0.8% | 3K |
| 22 | Economist | $136,150 | +22.3% | 290 |
| 23 | Software Developer | $134,710 | +5.7% | 58K |
| 24 | Computer Hardware Engineer | $134,670 | +3.5% | 1K |
| 25 | Database Administrator | $134,630 | +1.6% | 4K |
Healthcare
Surgeon
480 employed
$398,410
+5.5% vs national
Emergency Medicine Physician
710 employed
$339,350
-4.1% vs national
Internal Medicine Physician
2K employed
$289,780
+11.3% vs national
Nurse Anesthetist
3K employed
$224,610
-8.4% vs national
Podiatrist
240 employed
$215,420
+20.8% vs national
Family Medicine Physician
2K employed
$215,230
-16.5% vs national
Dentist
4K employed
$207,000
+17.8% vs national
Pediatrician
740 employed
$183,550
-14.8% vs national
Psychiatrist
620 employed
$168,880
-34.5% vs national
Optometrist
1K employed
$161,560
+18.7% vs national
Pharmacist
11K employed
$138,860
-2.8% vs national
Obstetrician and Gynecologist
590 employed
$134,540
-56.2% vs national
Physician Assistant
7K employed
$129,360
-4.9% vs national
Veterinarian
3K employed
$129,240
+3.4% vs national
Nurse Practitioner
10K employed
$128,990
-3.6% vs national
Nurse Midwife
240 employed
$126,040
-5.1% vs national
Medical and Health Services Manager
15K employed
$114,410
-4.9% vs national
Physical Therapist
7K employed
$99,910
-1.7% vs national
Dental Hygienist
7K employed
$97,850
+1.0% vs national
Occupational Therapist
4K employed
$92,940
-5.9% vs national
Speech-Language Pathologist
6K employed
$86,460
-5.3% vs national
Registered Nurse
111K employed
$84,350
-10.4% vs national
Respiratory Therapist
5K employed
$80,090
-4.5% vs national
Radiologic Technologist
9K employed
$74,450
-8.4% vs national
Dietitian and Nutritionist
3K employed
$67,560
-8.1% vs national
Licensed Practical Nurse
18K employed
$63,270
-5.2% vs national
Social Worker
4K employed
$58,210
+1.8% vs national
Mental Health Counselor
10K employed
$55,490
-6.6% vs national
Dental Assistant
11K employed
$50,380
+2.6% vs national
Rehabilitation Counselor
4K employed
$45,890
-4.7% vs national
Medical Assistant
24K employed
$45,140
+1.2% vs national
Pharmacy Technician
17K employed
$44,530
-2.0% vs national
Nursing Assistant (CNA)
64K employed
$38,460
-8.0% vs national
Home Health and Personal Care Aide
59K employed
$31,240
-10.6% vs national
Management
Chief Executive Officer
2K employed
$314,290
+47.8% vs national
Marketing Manager
11K employed
$165,480
+13.0% vs national
Sales Manager
17K employed
$150,470
+8.0% vs national
Human Resources Manager
6K employed
$142,990
+3.2% vs national
Purchasing Manager
3K employed
$138,710
-0.8% vs national
Public Relations Manager
2K employed
$132,280
+2.2% vs national
Training and Development Manager
2K employed
$126,200
+1.1% vs national
Industrial Production Manager
10K employed
$125,940
+1.2% vs national
Construction Manager
16K employed
$106,640
-6.7% vs national
Administrative Services Manager
7K employed
$105,630
-6.8% vs national
General and Operations Manager
64K employed
$101,950
-5.7% vs national
Project Management Specialist
36K employed
$100,820
+2.1% vs national
Management Analyst
22K employed
$98,560
+0.8% vs national
Human Resources Specialist
31K employed
$73,070
+0.6% vs national
Property and Real Estate Manager
11K employed
$61,430
-10.2% vs national
Science
Physicist
150 employed
$174,180
+13.3% vs national
Medical Scientist
6K employed
$102,980
+11.6% vs national
Geoscientist
570 employed
$95,260
+5.1% vs national
Psychologist
3K employed
$92,130
-5.2% vs national
Chemist
5K employed
$82,620
-10.2% vs national
Biochemist and Biophysicist
570 employed
$82,220
-17.1% vs national
Urban and Regional Planner
2K employed
$81,230
-3.1% vs national
Environmental Scientist
4K employed
$74,130
-7.4% vs national
Technology
Computer and Information Systems Manager
26K employed
$172,860
+6.1% vs national
Software Developer
58K employed
$134,710
+5.7% vs national
Computer Hardware Engineer
1K employed
$134,670
+3.5% vs national
Database Administrator
4K employed
$134,630
+1.6% vs national
Information Security Analyst
9K employed
$131,540
+12.5% vs national
Computer and Information Research Scientist
600 employed
$128,370
-3.5% vs national
Computer Network Architect
8K employed
$127,320
+0.7% vs national
Data Scientist
11K employed
$119,090
+11.0% vs national
Statistician
1K employed
$115,690
+17.4% vs national
Computer Systems Analyst
21K employed
$106,850
+2.6% vs national
Software Engineer
15K employed
$104,850
-1.7% vs national
Data Analyst
$101,850
+33.0% vs national
Web and Digital Interface Designer
3K employed
$97,990
+14.1% vs national
Operations Research Analyst
3K employed
$97,290
+9.0% vs national
Web Developer
2K employed
$96,610
+11.9% vs national
Network Administrator
14K employed
$95,230
+1.6% vs national
Multimedia Artist and Animator
370 employed
$88,350
+12.1% vs national
Computer Programmer
4K employed
$81,070
-15.6% vs national
Computer User Support Specialist
23K employed
$60,120
-1.1% vs national
Engineering
Engineering Manager
7K employed
$167,840
+1.1% vs national
Nuclear Engineer
460 employed
$131,850
-6.4% vs national
Aerospace Engineer
650 employed
$122,930
-5.5% vs national
Chemical Engineer
380 employed
$117,410
+1.5% vs national
Electrical Engineer
7K employed
$110,130
-3.8% vs national
Materials Engineer
640 employed
$104,240
-4.3% vs national
Civil Engineer
13K employed
$100,730
+1.6% vs national
Mechanical Engineer
10K employed
$100,720
-4.5% vs national
Environmental Engineer
$99,440
-4.4% vs national
Industrial Engineer
12K employed
$99,310
-6.8% vs national
Biomedical Engineer
920 employed
$94,790
-8.4% vs national
Finance
Financial Manager
22K employed
$166,780
+10.6% vs national
Economist
290 employed
$136,150
+22.3% vs national
Actuary
610 employed
$128,730
+3.2% vs national
Financial Analyst
13K employed
$102,390
+5.4% vs national
Financial Examiner
3K employed
$100,730
+12.8% vs national
Personal Financial Advisor
12K employed
$96,880
-2.2% vs national
Credit Analyst
3K employed
$94,570
+15.9% vs national
Budget Analyst
2K employed
$82,350
-6.8% vs national
Accountant
49K employed
$82,050
-0.7% vs national
Tax Examiner
4K employed
$80,900
+0.6% vs national
Compliance Officer
11K employed
$78,500
-0.6% vs national
Loan Officer
11K employed
$75,920
-0.6% vs national
Securities Sales Agent
22K employed
$74,040
+2.0% vs national
Insurance Sales Agent
21K employed
$58,710
-7.5% vs national
Skilled Trades
Airline Pilot
2K employed
$151,540
-29.3% vs national
Construction Supervisor
32K employed
$75,270
-9.3% vs national
Plumber
15K employed
$57,080
-16.7% vs national
Electrician
22K employed
$56,800
-18.0% vs national
Automotive Service Technician
27K employed
$48,200
-7.6% vs national
Maintenance and Repair Worker
43K employed
$47,910
-5.4% vs national
Air Traffic Controller
610 employed
$45,820
-19.5% vs national
Construction Laborer
36K employed
$44,720
-9.3% vs national
Legal
Creative
Art Director
$90,000
-5.2% vs national
Commercial and Industrial Designer
1K employed
$80,620
-1.5% vs national
Producer and Director
4K employed
$63,700
-9.9% vs national
Interior Designer
3K employed
$61,400
-6.8% vs national
Graphic Designer
6K employed
$58,450
-3.6% vs national
Audio and Video Technician
2K employed
$46,700
-14.0% vs national
Business & Operations
Logistician
8K employed
$80,780
-3.2% vs national
Market Research Analyst
31K employed
$78,410
+7.6% vs national
Purchasing Agent
14K employed
$75,880
-1.3% vs national
Editor
2K employed
$73,740
+10.6% vs national
Public Relations Specialist
10K employed
$67,230
-3.2% vs national
Training and Development Specialist
20K employed
$65,250
-5.0% vs national
Writer and Author
2K employed
$63,660
-10.0% vs national
Real Estate Broker
2K employed
$52,830
-24.6% vs national
Real Estate Sales Agent
8K employed
$51,240
-13.1% vs national
Education
Instructional Coordinator
8K employed
$63,340
-16.9% vs national
Librarian
4K employed
$61,420
-9.0% vs national
Secondary School Teacher
29K employed
$57,650
-18.1% vs national
School Counselor
9K employed
$57,630
-11.3% vs national
Elementary School Teacher
42K employed
$54,930
-19.4% vs national
Kindergarten Teacher
2K employed
$53,180
-17.1% vs national
Middle School Teacher
21K employed
$52,010
-24.1% vs national
Tutor
9K employed
$41,710
-6.5% vs national