Marketing Managers Salary
The median pay for a marketing managers in North Carolina is $165,480/year ($79.56/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $97K at the entry level to $274K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $178,588 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,284/month, or 12.5% 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 $165K get you in North Carolina?
About marketing managers
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Marketing managers pay in North Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $165K locally vs. $167K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,284/month, 13.2% 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 marketing managers (10th percentile) start around $97K. Mid-career wages sit at $165K. Top earners bring in $274K or more, a $177K spread from bottom to top.
Marketing Managers salary by metro in North Carolina
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $175K | +6% | 1,230 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $168K | +1% | 2,390 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $166K | +0% | 3,830 |
| Burlington | $165K | -0% | 80 |
| Rocky Mount | $162K | -2% | 60 |
| Winston-Salem | $161K | -3% | 440 |
| Greenville | $155K | -6% | 60 |
| Wilmington | $154K | -7% | 170 |
| Greensboro-High Point | $152K | -8% | 650 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | $151K | -9% | 200 |
| Asheville | $151K | -9% | 160 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines | $149K | -10% | 30 |
| Fayetteville | $141K | -15% | 70 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a marketing manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $165K, rent takes 13.2% 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 marketing managers in North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new marketing managers typically earn — is $97K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,806/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 22% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is marketing manager a high-paying job in North Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $165K locally vs. $167K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for marketing managers?
North Carolina pays $165K median vs. the U.S. average of $167K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $179K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do marketing managers make in North Carolina?
The median is $165,480 a year, that works out to about $80 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $96,760, and experienced marketing managers can clear $274,100. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $165K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,701/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 13.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a marketing managers 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 marketing managers salary is worth about $178,588 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do marketing managers 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.