SalaryExplorer

SOC 11-3121 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS

Human Resources ManagersCentral North Carolina

Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area · 10 metro areas compared

$116,770 /year
$56.14per hour
170jobs in area
21.8%vs US median

The median wage for Human Resources Managers in Central North Carolina, NC is $116,770 per year, 21.8% below the national median of $149,280.

Wage distribution · annual

Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners

US MEDIAN $149,28010TH$78,97025TH$98,960MEDIAN$116,77075TH$150,27090TH$204,840

Salary overview

The median wage for Human Resources Managers in Central North Carolina, NC is $116,770 per year, 21.8% below the national median of $149,280. Pay ranges from under $78,970 at the tenth percentile to more than $204,840 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $98,960 to $150,270.

The area has 170 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.7 of every thousand jobs. Durham leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $160,580. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 22nd of 438 by median pay.

Percentile breakdown

Annual wages by percentile · Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area · May 2025
PercentileAnnualvs US median
10th$78,970−47.1%
25th$98,960−33.7%
Median (50th)$116,770−21.8%
75th$150,270+0.7%
90th$204,840+37.2%
Mean$131,780−11.7%

Other metro areas in North Carolina

Median annual wage for Human Resources Managers, by metro area
#Metro areaMedianJobsRelative
1Durham$160,580630
2Charlotte$158,9302,310
3Greenville$156,95060
4Raleigh$144,1901,080
5Wilmington$140,960130
6Winston-Salem$137,110320
7Burlington$135,22060
8Greensboro$133,320420
9Fayetteville$128,54090
10Asheville$125,420150

What the pay is worth locally

Prices in Central North Carolina run 5.7% below the national average, so the median of $116,770 goes as far as $123,828 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 17.0% below the national median in real terms.

Published median

$116,770as reported by BLS

Local price level

94.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Adjusted for local prices

$123,828US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Key takeaways

  • Median pay is $116,770 a year, 21.8% below the national median.
  • Published pay spans $78,970 to $204,840 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
  • The area has 170 jobs in this occupation.
  • The highest-paying metro area covered is Durham, at $160,580.

Frequently asked questions

What is the median wage for Human Resources Managers in Central North Carolina, NC?

The median annual wage is $116,770, or $56.14 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 $149,280, so pay in Central North Carolina, NC is 21.8% 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 Central North Carolina, NC earns more than $204,840 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.

What is the starting range?

The tenth percentile wage is $78,970 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 $160,580 per year.

How many jobs are there in this occupation here?

The survey estimates 170 jobs in this occupation in Central North Carolina, NC. 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.

Human Resources Managers Salary in Central North Carolina, NC (2025): $116,770 Median | Salary Explorer