Jobs that actually got a raise in North Carolina

Consumer prices rose about 26% between May 2019 and May 2025, so a wage that grew less than that lost ground while appearing to rise. The column on the right is the inflation-adjusted change; the nominal figure beneath it is what a paycheck comparison would have shown. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people, so the ranking is not dominated by tiny, noisy ones.

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 · Real change since 2019

1Tax Preparers$48,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,480 – $97,720+58.4%+99.5% nominal
2Driver/Sales Workers$36,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$18,260 – $60,390+47.4%+85.7% nominal
3Bartenders$36,470
No formal educational credential
$16,180 – $74,450+43.9%+81.3% nominal
4Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$38,410
Postsecondary nondegree award
$26,880 – $61,530+34.4%+69.3% nominal
5Waiters and Waitresses$32,150
No formal educational credential
$17,140 – $62,670+32.2%+66.5% nominal
6Manicurists and Pedicurists$34,740
Postsecondary nondegree award
$22,150 – $73,260+31.9%+66.1% nominal
7Tire Builders$63,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,750 – $79,740+30.7%+64.6% nominal
8Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary$50,050
Bachelor's degree
$33,130 – $73,980+25.6%+58.2% nominal
9Financial Examiners$100,730
Bachelor's degree
$64,760 – $166,110+24.9%+57.3% nominal
10Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$47,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,360 – $67,660+24.7%+57.1% nominal
11Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers$30,260
No formal educational credential
$22,320 – $33,800+23.6%+55.7% nominal
12Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$46,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,850 – $58,410+23.4%+55.4% nominal
13Chief Executives$314,290
Bachelor's degree
$114,210 – $624,990+21.9%+53.5% nominal
14Cooks, Short Order$31,290
No formal educational credential
$23,350 – $38,210+21.8%+53.4% nominal
15Helpers--Production Workers$39,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,350 – $50,580+20.9%+52.3% nominal
16Biological Technicians$61,720
Bachelor's degree
$41,300 – $79,070+20.0%+51.2% nominal
17Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$43,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,900 – $48,380+18.9%+49.7% nominal
18Massage Therapists$60,650
Postsecondary nondegree award
$31,050 – $96,510+18.6%+49.4% nominal
19Dishwashers$30,340
No formal educational credential
$23,540 – $37,320+18.5%+49.2% nominal
20Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$28,320
No formal educational credential
$19,100 – $36,460+18.4%+49.1% nominal
21Fast Food and Counter Workers$28,570
No formal educational credential
$21,800 – $36,820+17.7%+48.3% nominal
22Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$31,460
No formal educational credential
$23,760 – $40,110+16.9%+47.1% nominal
23Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$33,470
No formal educational credential
$22,530 – $44,520+16.7%+46.9% nominal
24Packers and Packagers, Hand$34,360
No formal educational credential
$24,500 – $45,350+16.1%+46.2% nominal
25Nursing Assistants$38,460
Postsecondary nondegree award
$30,260 – $47,080+15.9%+45.9% nominal
26Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$44,670
No formal educational credential
$25,140 – $58,570+15.8%+45.8% nominal
27Home Health and Personal Care Aides$31,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$24,690 – $38,680+15.7%+45.7% nominal
28Construction Laborers$44,720
No formal educational credential
$31,850 – $59,970+15.4%+45.3% nominal
29Counter and Rental Clerks$38,230
No formal educational credential
$27,110 – $64,070+15.3%+45.3% nominal
30Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$47,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,040 – $66,080+15.2%+45.0% nominal
31Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$34,500
No formal educational credential
$25,740 – $42,430+15.0%+44.8% nominal
32Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$33,780
Bachelor's degree
$28,390 – $45,040+14.6%+44.4% nominal
33Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers$151,540
Bachelor's degree
$97,700 – $206,700+14.5%+44.2% nominal
34Cashiers$28,880
No formal educational credential
$22,450 – $35,810+14.4%+44.0% nominal
35Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$62,220
Bachelor's degree
$45,410 – $75,180+14.2%+43.8% nominal
36Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$41,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,140 – $59,220+14.1%+43.7% nominal
37Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$31,920
No formal educational credential
$26,020 – $38,360+14.0%+43.5% nominal
38Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$33,870
No formal educational credential
$27,600 – $43,930+13.9%+43.5% nominal
39Maintenance Workers, Machinery$60,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,540 – $78,230+13.4%+42.7% nominal
40Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$39,170
No formal educational credential
$29,710 – $41,640+13.1%+42.4% nominal
41Food Batchmakers$36,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,030 – $51,070+13.0%+42.3% nominal
42Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$45,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,600 – $59,180+12.8%+42.0% nominal
43Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$27,560
No formal educational credential
$15,920 – $37,870+12.8%+42.0% nominal
44Medical Equipment Preparers$45,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,410 – $58,950+12.6%+41.8% nominal
45Self-Enrichment Teachers$41,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$25,420 – $76,490+12.6%+41.8% nominal
46Crossing Guards and Flaggers$33,730
No formal educational credential
$29,500 – $36,150+12.4%+41.6% nominal
47Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$31,310
No formal educational credential
$23,990 – $40,110+12.4%+41.5% nominal
48Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$27,310
No formal educational credential
$21,830 – $36,390+12.4%+41.6% nominal
49Cooks, Fast Food$27,190
No formal educational credential
$21,890 – $34,860+12.4%+41.5% nominal
50Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$44,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,610 – $57,330+12.1%+41.2% nominal

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	Real change since 2019
1	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,130	$35,480 – $97,720	+58.4%+99.5% nominal
2	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,540	$18,260 – $60,390	+47.4%+85.7% nominal
3	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$36,470	$16,180 – $74,450	+43.9%+81.3% nominal
4	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$38,410	$26,880 – $61,530	+34.4%+69.3% nominal
5	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$32,150	$17,140 – $62,670	+32.2%+66.5% nominal
6	Manicurists and PedicuristsPostsecondary nondegree award	$34,740	$22,150 – $73,260	+31.9%+66.1% nominal
7	Tire BuildersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,950	$47,750 – $79,740	+30.7%+64.6% nominal
8	Teaching Assistants, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$50,050	$33,130 – $73,980	+25.6%+58.2% nominal
9	Financial ExaminersBachelor's degree	$100,730	$64,760 – $166,110	+24.9%+57.3% nominal
10	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,320	$37,360 – $67,660	+24.7%+57.1% nominal
11	Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket TakersNo formal educational credential	$30,260	$22,320 – $33,800	+23.6%+55.7% nominal
12	Cabinetmakers and Bench CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,010	$34,850 – $58,410	+23.4%+55.4% nominal
13	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$314,290	$114,210 – $624,990	+21.9%+53.5% nominal
14	Cooks, Short OrderNo formal educational credential	$31,290	$23,350 – $38,210	+21.8%+53.4% nominal
15	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,410	$30,350 – $50,580	+20.9%+52.3% nominal
16	Biological TechniciansBachelor's degree	$61,720	$41,300 – $79,070	+20.0%+51.2% nominal
17	Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,710	$32,900 – $48,380	+18.9%+49.7% nominal
18	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,650	$31,050 – $96,510	+18.6%+49.4% nominal
19	DishwashersNo formal educational credential	$30,340	$23,540 – $37,320	+18.5%+49.2% nominal
20	Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee ShopNo formal educational credential	$28,320	$19,100 – $36,460	+18.4%+49.1% nominal
21	Fast Food and Counter WorkersNo formal educational credential	$28,570	$21,800 – $36,820	+17.7%+48.3% nominal
22	Food Servers, NonrestaurantNo formal educational credential	$31,460	$23,760 – $40,110	+16.9%+47.1% nominal
23	Cleaners of Vehicles and EquipmentNo formal educational credential	$33,470	$22,530 – $44,520	+16.7%+46.9% nominal
24	Packers and Packagers, HandNo formal educational credential	$34,360	$24,500 – $45,350	+16.1%+46.2% nominal
25	Nursing AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$38,460	$30,260 – $47,080	+15.9%+45.9% nominal
26	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$44,670	$25,140 – $58,570	+15.8%+45.8% nominal
27	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31,240	$24,690 – $38,680	+15.7%+45.7% nominal
28	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$44,720	$31,850 – $59,970	+15.4%+45.3% nominal
29	Counter and Rental ClerksNo formal educational credential	$38,230	$27,110 – $64,070	+15.3%+45.3% nominal
30	Healthcare Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,080	$36,040 – $66,080	+15.2%+45.0% nominal
31	Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential	$34,500	$25,740 – $42,430	+15.0%+44.8% nominal
32	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$33,780	$28,390 – $45,040	+14.6%+44.4% nominal
33	Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersBachelor's degree	$151,540	$97,700 – $206,700	+14.5%+44.2% nominal
34	CashiersNo formal educational credential	$28,880	$22,450 – $35,810	+14.4%+44.0% nominal
35	Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$62,220	$45,410 – $75,180	+14.2%+43.8% nominal
36	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,150	$31,140 – $59,220	+14.1%+43.7% nominal
37	Laundry and Dry-Cleaning WorkersNo formal educational credential	$31,920	$26,020 – $38,360	+14.0%+43.5% nominal
38	Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and GreenhouseNo formal educational credential	$33,870	$27,600 – $43,930	+13.9%+43.5% nominal
39	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,580	$42,540 – $78,230	+13.4%+42.7% nominal
40	Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and TrimmersNo formal educational credential	$39,170	$29,710 – $41,640	+13.1%+42.4% nominal
41	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,590	$29,030 – $51,070	+13.0%+42.3% nominal
42	Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,080	$29,600 – $59,180	+12.8%+42.0% nominal
43	Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender HelpersNo formal educational credential	$27,560	$15,920 – $37,870	+12.8%+42.0% nominal
44	Medical Equipment PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,130	$36,410 – $58,950	+12.6%+41.8% nominal
45	Self-Enrichment TeachersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,710	$25,420 – $76,490	+12.6%+41.8% nominal
46	Crossing Guards and FlaggersNo formal educational credential	$33,730	$29,500 – $36,150	+12.4%+41.6% nominal
47	Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential	$31,310	$23,990 – $40,110	+12.4%+41.5% nominal
48	Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service WorkersNo formal educational credential	$27,310	$21,830 – $36,390	+12.4%+41.6% nominal
49	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$27,190	$21,890 – $34,860	+12.4%+41.5% nominal
50	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,060	$35,610 – $57,330	+12.1%+41.2% nominal

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.

Jobs that actually got a raise in North Carolina

More for North Carolina

Metro areas in North Carolina

By field in North Carolina

Without a degree

Jobs that actually got a raise in each state