Labor Relations Specialists Salary
Labor Relations Specialists in North Carolina make a median of $86,270 a year, or about $41.48 an hour. The range runs from $59K at the entry level to $124K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $93,104 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,284/month, or 23.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $86K get you in North Carolina?
About labor relations specialists
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Labor relations specialists pay in North Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $86K locally vs. $95K nationwide, a 10% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,284/month, 23.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Carolina
Entry-level labor relations specialists (10th percentile) start around $59K. Mid-career wages sit at $86K. Top earners bring in $124K or more, a $64K spread from bottom to top.
Labor Relations Specialists salary by metro in North Carolina
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $99K | +15% | 300 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $78K | -9% | 50 |
| Greensboro-High Point | $77K | -11% | 50 |
| Winston-Salem | $77K | -11% | 30 |
| Asheville | $73K | -15% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track labor relations specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a labor relations specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $86K, rent takes 23.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for labor relations specialists in North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new labor relations specialists typically earn — is $59K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,557/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 36% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is labor relations specialist a high-paying job in North Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $86K locally vs. $95K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for labor relations specialists?
North Carolina pays $86K median vs. the U.S. average of $95K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $93K — below the national median.
How much do labor relations specialists make in North Carolina?
The median is $86,270 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $59,280, and experienced labor relations specialists can clear $123,590. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $86K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,433/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 23.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a labor relations specialists salary go in North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median labor relations specialists salary is worth about $93,104 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do labor relations specialists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.