High paying entry level jobs in North Carolina

These occupations in North Carolina ask for no prior experience in a related job and no on-the-job training period: you are expected to be productive on arrival. That is precisely why most of them want a specific qualification instead — the credential does the work the experience would have. Read the line under each title for what that qualification is; several here are doctorates. If you need something you can start without one, use the no-experience list.

Cost of living: prices in North Carolina run 5.7% below the national average (2024), so a North Carolina salary is worth about 1.06× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in North Carolina.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in North Carolina

OccupationMedian, North Carolina · Employed

1Nurse Anesthetists$224,610
Master's degree
$117,170 – $323,6403,340
2Dentists, General$207,000
Doctoral or professional degree
$107,810 – $337,6304,140
3Pharmacists$138,860
Doctoral or professional degree
$101,670 – $169,82011,430
4Software Developers$134,710
Bachelor's degree
$83,840 – $179,31058,470
5Financial Risk Specialists$132,040
Bachelor's degree
$70,440 – $207,8203,200
6Physician Assistants$129,360
Master's degree
$101,100 – $164,7707,490
7Veterinarians$129,240
Doctoral or professional degree
$77,650 – $209,3402,940
8Nurse Practitioners$128,990
Master's degree
$103,530 – $164,3209,800
9Lawyers$127,710
Doctoral or professional degree
$61,610 – $323,72017,000
10Data Scientists$119,090
Bachelor's degree
$65,970 – $172,83011,430
11Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$115,920
Bachelor's degree
$79,420 – $171,5402,090
12Database Administrators$113,900
Bachelor's degree
$62,430 – $160,1601,920
13Engineers, All Other$112,450
Bachelor's degree
$63,130 – $173,3704,270
14Electrical Engineers$110,130
Bachelor's degree
$66,800 – $203,4907,090
15Computer Systems Analysts$106,850
Bachelor's degree
$73,190 – $166,66020,910
16Computer Occupations, All Other$104,850
Bachelor's degree
$39,190 – $175,66015,090
17Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$102,980
Doctoral or professional degree
$63,800 – $171,1705,730
18Financial and Investment Analysts$102,390
Bachelor's degree
$61,670 – $167,25012,710
19Project Management Specialists$100,820
Bachelor's degree
$61,570 – $164,05036,200
20Civil Engineers$100,730
Bachelor's degree
$70,760 – $160,52012,810
21Mechanical Engineers$100,720
Bachelor's degree
$71,260 – $155,5509,560
22Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$100,390
Bachelor's degree
$61,190 – $148,7108,890
23Biological Scientists, All Other$100,070
Bachelor's degree
$65,460 – $152,1702,780
24Physical Therapists$99,910
Doctoral or professional degree
$78,020 – $125,9407,350
25Industrial Engineers$99,310
Bachelor's degree
$68,930 – $139,11011,580
26Web and Digital Interface Designers$97,990
Bachelor's degree
$44,530 – $163,8503,400
27Dental Hygienists$97,850
Associate's degree
$77,270 – $103,8506,690
28Operations Research Analysts$97,290
Bachelor's degree
$60,180 – $130,9802,520
29Web Developers$96,610
Bachelor's degree
$54,450 – $140,5502,030
30Network and Computer Systems Administrators$95,230
Bachelor's degree
$50,680 – $149,65013,850
31Credit Analysts$94,570
Bachelor's degree
$62,620 – $164,1403,270
32Occupational Therapists$92,940
Master's degree
$62,230 – $118,3004,490
33Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$86,650
Bachelor's degree
$59,550 – $129,7104,670
34Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$86,010
Associate's degree
$67,070 – $105,5302,970
35Registered Nurses$84,350
Bachelor's degree
$67,660 – $110,220111,120
36Chemists$82,620
Bachelor's degree
$58,170 – $132,0204,530
37Budget Analysts$82,350
Bachelor's degree
$59,050 – $128,5601,830
38Accountants and Auditors$82,050
Bachelor's degree
$53,610 – $146,10049,270
39Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other$81,420
Bachelor's degree
$65,140 – $124,8401,770
40Urban and Regional Planners$81,230
Master's degree
$58,830 – $112,1101,630
41Computer Programmers$81,070
Bachelor's degree
$26,170 – $134,7804,120
42Financial Specialists, All Other$80,900
Bachelor's degree
$51,690 – $132,6104,190
43Logisticians$80,780
Bachelor's degree
$55,810 – $128,1807,860
44Business Operations Specialists, All Other$80,230
Bachelor's degree
$48,370 – $139,03041,180
45Respiratory Therapists$80,090
Associate's degree
$63,990 – $99,5204,630
46Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary$80,080
Doctoral or professional degree
$45,270 – $135,9001,650
47Business Teachers, Postsecondary$79,600
Doctoral or professional degree
$42,480 – $173,3202,960
48Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$78,410
Bachelor's degree
$43,780 – $155,67030,700
49Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$77,700
Doctoral or professional degree
$51,490 – $136,0201,960
50Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$76,980
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,970 – $112,0504,700

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianNorth Carolina	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Nurse AnesthetistsMaster's degree	$224,610	$117,170 – $323,640	3,340
2	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$207,000	$107,810 – $337,630	4,140
3	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$138,860	$101,670 – $169,820	11,430
4	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$134,710	$83,840 – $179,310	58,470
5	Financial Risk SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$132,040	$70,440 – $207,820	3,200
6	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$129,360	$101,100 – $164,770	7,490
7	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$129,240	$77,650 – $209,340	2,940
8	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$128,990	$103,530 – $164,320	9,800
9	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$127,710	$61,610 – $323,720	17,000
10	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$119,090	$65,970 – $172,830	11,430
11	Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree	$115,920	$79,420 – $171,540	2,090
12	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$113,900	$62,430 – $160,160	1,920
13	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$112,450	$63,130 – $173,370	4,270
14	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$110,130	$66,800 – $203,490	7,090
15	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$106,850	$73,190 – $166,660	20,910
16	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$104,850	$39,190 – $175,660	15,090
17	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$102,980	$63,800 – $171,170	5,730
18	Financial and Investment AnalystsBachelor's degree	$102,390	$61,670 – $167,250	12,710
19	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$100,820	$61,570 – $164,050	36,200
20	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$100,730	$70,760 – $160,520	12,810
21	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$100,720	$71,260 – $155,550	9,560
22	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$100,390	$61,190 – $148,710	8,890
23	Biological Scientists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$100,070	$65,460 – $152,170	2,780
24	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$99,910	$78,020 – $125,940	7,350
25	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$99,310	$68,930 – $139,110	11,580
26	Web and Digital Interface DesignersBachelor's degree	$97,990	$44,530 – $163,850	3,400
27	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$97,850	$77,270 – $103,850	6,690
28	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$97,290	$60,180 – $130,980	2,520
29	Web DevelopersBachelor's degree	$96,610	$54,450 – $140,550	2,030
30	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$95,230	$50,680 – $149,650	13,850
31	Credit AnalystsBachelor's degree	$94,570	$62,620 – $164,140	3,270
32	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$92,940	$62,230 – $118,300	4,490
33	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$86,650	$59,550 – $129,710	4,670
34	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$86,010	$67,070 – $105,530	2,970
35	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$84,350	$67,660 – $110,220	111,120
36	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$82,620	$58,170 – $132,020	4,530
37	Budget AnalystsBachelor's degree	$82,350	$59,050 – $128,560	1,830
38	Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree	$82,050	$53,610 – $146,100	49,270
39	Social Scientists and Related Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$81,420	$65,140 – $124,840	1,770
40	Urban and Regional PlannersMaster's degree	$81,230	$58,830 – $112,110	1,630
41	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$81,070	$26,170 – $134,780	4,120
42	Financial Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$80,900	$51,690 – $132,610	4,190
43	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$80,780	$55,810 – $128,180	7,860
44	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$80,230	$48,370 – $139,030	41,180
45	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$80,090	$63,990 – $99,520	4,630
46	Computer Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$80,080	$45,270 – $135,900	1,650
47	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$79,600	$42,480 – $173,320	2,960
48	Market Research Analysts and Marketing SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$78,410	$43,780 – $155,670	30,700
49	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$77,700	$51,490 – $136,020	1,960
50	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,980	$50,970 – $112,050	4,700

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in North Carolina. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

More for North Carolina

Metro areas in North Carolina

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in North Carolina

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in North Carolina to rank honestly.

High paying entry level jobs in North Carolina

More for North Carolina

Metro areas in North Carolina

By field in North Carolina

Without a degree

High paying entry level jobs in each state