SOC 13-1051 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cost Estimators — North Carolina
North Carolina · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage here is $74,730 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $78,740.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage here is $74,730 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $78,740. Half of workers earn between $57,680 and $94,320. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $43,580 and the ninetieth at $123,240.
The area has 8,030 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.13 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, North Carolina ranks 42nd by median wage. Durham leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $80,800. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 210th of 745 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $43,580 | −44.7% |
| 25th | $57,680 | −26.7% |
| Median (50th) | $74,730 | −5.1% |
| 75th | $94,320 | +19.8% |
| 90th | $123,240 | +56.5% |
| Mean | $78,060 | −0.9% |
Highest-paying metro areas in North Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Durham | $80,800 | 360 | |
| 2 | Raleigh | $79,230 | 1,420 | |
| 3 | Charlotte | $77,990 | 2,360 | |
| 4 | Asheville | $75,000 | 330 | |
| 5 | Greensboro | $73,410 | 600 | |
| 6 | Wilmington | $72,900 | 370 | |
| 7 | Fayetteville | $72,840 | 150 | |
| 8 | Burlington | $72,330 | 90 | |
| 9 | Greenville | $72,050 | 140 | |
| 10 | Winston-Salem | $71,220 | 540 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in North Carolina run 5.7% below the national average, so the median of $74,730 goes as far as $79,247 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 0.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$74,730as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$79,247US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $74,730 a year, 5.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $43,580 to $123,240 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 8,030 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 42nd of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Durham, at $80,800.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cost Estimators in North Carolina?
The median annual wage is $74,730, or $35.93 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $78,740, so pay in North Carolina is 5.1% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in North Carolina earns more than $123,240 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $43,580 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Durham, at $80,800 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 8,030 jobs in this occupation in North Carolina. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. 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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