SOC 29-1141 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Registered Nurses — North Carolina
North Carolina · 10 metro areas compared
In North Carolina the median wage is $84,350.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In North Carolina the median wage is $84,350. That is 13.5% lower than the national median of $97,550. Pay ranges from under $67,660 at the tenth percentile to more than $110,220 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $78,770 to $102,040.
Employment stands at 111,120, or 22.5 jobs per thousand held locally. North Carolina ranks number 33rd out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Charlotte records the highest median at $90,620. Of the 745 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 148th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $67,660 | −30.6% |
| 25th | $78,770 | −19.3% |
| Median (50th) | $84,350 | −13.5% |
| 75th | $102,040 | +4.6% |
| 90th | $110,220 | +13.0% |
| Mean | $90,470 | −7.3% |
Highest-paying metro areas in North Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charlotte | $90,620 | 27,010 | |
| 2 | Winston-Salem | $86,120 | 10,180 | |
| 3 | Raleigh | $84,830 | 12,780 | |
| 4 | Jacksonville | $84,750 | 870 | |
| 5 | Burlington | $84,180 | 1,080 | |
| 6 | Fayetteville | $83,060 | 3,430 | |
| 7 | Greensboro | $82,860 | 6,240 | |
| 8 | Goldsboro | $82,740 | 950 | |
| 9 | Rocky Mount | $82,300 | 1,180 | |
| 10 | Greenville | $81,670 | 3,770 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in North Carolina run 5.7% below the national average, so the median of $84,350 goes as far as $89,449 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 8.3% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$84,350as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$89,449US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $84,350 a year, 13.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $67,660 to $110,220 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 111,120 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 33rd of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Charlotte, at $90,620.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Registered Nurses in North Carolina?
The median annual wage is $84,350, or $40.56 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 $97,550, so pay in North Carolina is 13.5% 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 $110,220 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $67,660 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 Charlotte, at $90,620 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 111,120 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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