Top Paying Jobs in North Carolina
North Carolina has 100 tracked occupation categories totaling 613,580 jobs. The highest-paying occupations include Surgeons, All Other ($398,410), Dermatologists ($367,350), Emergency Medicine Physicians ($339,350). The cost of living index is 92.66 (national average = 100). Median 2-bedroom rent is $1,284/month.
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State-level averages. Salaries, rent, and cost of living vary significantly between metros. For more accurate data, select a metro area from the list below or browse all metros.
$149K
Avg. median salary
92.66
Cost of living index
$1,284
Median 2BR rent
11,066,019
Population
Highest paying careers in North Carolina
| Rank | Occupation | Category | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Surgeons, All Other | Healthcare | $398K | $191.54/hr |
| 2 | Dermatologists | Healthcare | $367K | $176.61/hr |
| 3 | Emergency Medicine Physicians | Healthcare | $339K | $163.15/hr |
| 4 | Neurologists | Healthcare | $326K | $156.52/hr |
| 5 | Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric | Healthcare | $324K | $155.59/hr |
| 6 | Chief Executives | Management | $314K | $151.1/hr |
| 7 | General Internal Medicine Physicians | Healthcare | $290K | $139.32/hr |
| 8 | Physicians, All Other | Healthcare | $260K | $125.16/hr |
| 9 | Physicians, Pathologists | Healthcare | $249K | $119.69/hr |
| 10 | Dentists, All Other Specialists | Healthcare | $226K | $108.65/hr |
Affordability snapshot: North Carolina
These are statewide averages. Costs vary widely between metros, click into a specific city for precise numbers.
Cost of living vs. national average-7.3% less expensive
2-bedroom apartment (FMR)$1,284/mo
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Metro areas in North Carolina
Click a metro for detailed salary, rent, and cost-of-living data specific to that area.
Asheville
$1,567/mo rentRPP 96.5
Burlington$1,348/mo rentRPP 93.2
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia$1,496/mo rentRPP 97.3
Durham-Chapel Hill$1,711/mo rentRPP 97.6
Fayetteville$932/mo rentRPP 92
Goldsboro$1,244/mo rentRPP 88.5
Greensboro-High Point$1,450/mo rentRPP 92.9
Greenville$1,014/mo rentRPP 88.4
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton$1,095/mo rentRPP 88.5
Jacksonville$1,173/mo rentRPP 92.1
Pinehurst-Southern Pines$1,358/mo rentRPP 88.3
Raleigh-Cary$1,214/mo rentRPP 98.2
Rocky Mount$1,455/mo rentRPP 88
Wilmington$1,262/mo rentRPP 96.4
Winston-Salem$1,443/mo rentRPP 92
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