North Carolina has a state income tax rate of up to 4.5%. The highest paying profession in North Carolina is Surgeon at $320,500/year. Select any profession below for a full city, experience and take-home pay breakdown.
The table below shows median annual salaries for 50+ professions in North Carolina, ranked from highest to lowest. All figures are sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024 release, refreshed for 2026. Click any profession for a full breakdown including city-level data, experience levels and a take-home pay calculator.
| Profession | Category | Annual Median | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surgeon | Healthcare | $320,500 | $154.09 |
| Pilot | Transport | $181,650 | $87.33 |
| Software Developer | Technology | $120,350 | $57.86 |
| Physician Assistant | Healthcare | $118,300 | $56.88 |
| Nurse Practitioner | Healthcare | $112,850 | $54.25 |
| Financial Advisor | Finance | $90,600 | $43.56 |
| Physical Therapist | Healthcare | $88,950 | $42.76 |
| Occupational Therapist | Healthcare | $87,700 | $42.16 |
| Network Administrator | Technology | $84,450 | $40.60 |
| Dental Hygienist | Healthcare | $74,050 | $35.60 |
| Accountant | Finance | $72,700 | $34.95 |
| Registered Nurse | Healthcare | $70,600 | $33.94 |
| Respiratory Therapist | Healthcare | $63,450 | $30.50 |
| Police Officer | Public Safety | $62,950 | $30.26 |
| Radiologic Technologist | Healthcare | $62,700 | $30.14 |
| Plumber | Trades | $57,800 | $27.79 |
| School Counselor | Education | $57,700 | $27.74 |
| Teacher | Education | $56,250 | $27.04 |
| Electrician | Trades | $56,050 | $26.95 |
| Librarian | Education | $55,700 | $26.78 |
| Court Reporter | Legal | $55,550 | $26.71 |
| Paralegal | Legal | $53,850 | $25.89 |
| HVAC Technician | Trades | $52,150 | $25.07 |
| Real Estate Agent | Business | $51,500 | $24.76 |
| Firefighter | Public Safety | $51,250 | $24.64 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | Trades | $51,200 | $24.62 |
| Truck Driver | Transport | $49,450 | $23.77 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | Healthcare | $49,300 | $23.70 |
| Carpenter | Trades | $48,650 | $23.39 |
| Correctional Officer | Public Safety | $48,100 | $23.12 |
| Social Worker | Social Services | $47,100 | $22.64 |
| Mason | Trades | $45,850 | $22.04 |
| Roofer | Trades | $45,550 | $21.90 |
| Paramedic | Public Safety | $45,400 | $21.83 |
| Solar Installer | Trades | $43,600 | $20.96 |
| Bookkeeper | Business | $43,050 | $20.70 |
| Welder | Trades | $42,800 | $20.58 |
| Dispatcher | Transport | $42,650 | $20.50 |
| Painter | Trades | $42,600 | $20.48 |
| Bus Driver | Transport | $41,650 | $20.02 |
| Delivery Driver | Transport | $38,950 | $18.73 |
| Dental Assistant | Healthcare | $38,950 | $18.73 |
| Medical Assistant | Healthcare | $37,050 | $17.81 |
| Pharmacy Technician | Healthcare | $36,650 | $17.62 |
| EMT | Public Safety | $35,350 | $17.00 |
| Veterinary Technician | Healthcare | $35,350 | $17.00 |
| Cosmetologist | Personal Services | $30,400 | $14.62 |
| Teaching Assistant | Education | $28,600 | $13.75 |
Compare North Carolina wages with nearby states: