Data vintage · May 2025 · Ranked by median annual wage
Lowest-paying jobs in Western North Carolina
472 occupations with published wages, ranked
The lowest published median wage in Western North Carolina belongs to Museum Technicians and Conservators, at $22,660 per year. The highest is $420,440.
The 10 lowest-paying occupations
| # | Occupation | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Museum Technicians and Conservators | $22,660 | 30 | |
| 2 | Cooks, Fast Food | $24,260 | 4,350 | |
| 3 | Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $25,170 | 240 | |
| 4 | Amusement and Recreation Attendants | $26,130 | 1,110 | |
| 5 | Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials | $26,540 | 110 | |
| 6 | Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $26,900 | 980 | |
| 7 | Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $27,340 | 490 | |
| 8 | Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,860 | 5,200 | |
| 9 | Parts Salespersons | $28,160 | 680 | |
| 10 | Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $28,370 | 260 |
At the other end of the scale
| Occupation | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Medicine Physicians | $420,440 | — |
| Physicians, All Other | $371,190 | 490 |
| Nurse Anesthetists | $270,400 | 70 |
| Dentists, General | $213,190 | 200 |
| Chief Executives | $203,790 | 60 |
| Family Medicine Physicians | $187,660 | 150 |
| Psychiatrists | $155,400 | 30 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $153,290 | 130 |
| Optometrists | $148,840 | 70 |
| Marketing Managers | $146,610 | 170 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $146,360 | 420 |
| Fundraising Managers | $140,140 | 60 |
| Pharmacists | $132,130 | 580 |
| Purchasing Managers | $124,340 | 70 |
| Software Developers | $124,010 | 610 |
| Computer Network Architects | $124,000 | 170 |
| Nurse Practitioners | $123,770 | 420 |
| Financial Managers | $122,480 | 560 |
| Veterinarians | $119,320 | 150 |
| Electrical Engineers | $118,870 | 140 |
| Database Architects | $118,570 | 50 |
| Human Resources Managers | $118,150 | 170 |
| Economics Teachers, Postsecondary | $116,150 | 60 |
| Physician Assistants | $115,460 | 340 |
| Industrial Production Managers | $114,300 | 560 |
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Rankings cover only occupations for which a median wage was published; occupations the survey suppressed do not appear. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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