Jobs that lost the most to inflation in North Carolina

Every occupation here is paid more in dollars than it was in 2019 and less in what those dollars buy. Prices rose about 26% over the period; these wages did not keep up. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people.

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

1Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$55,460
Associate's degree
$38,650 – $101,850-34.3%-17.2% nominal
2Information and Record Clerks, All Other$33,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$23,250 – $61,030-29.1%-10.7% nominal
3Computer Programmers$81,070
Bachelor's degree
$26,170 – $134,780-28.9%-10.4% nominal
4Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$49,200
Associate's degree
$47,720 – $99,940-27.9%-9.2% nominal
5Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$55,350
No formal educational credential
$40,600 – $75,280-26.9%-8.0% nominal
6Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$103,220
Doctoral or professional degree
$60,110 – $329,800-26.9%-7.9% nominal
7General and Operations Managers$101,950
Bachelor's degree
$48,340 – $238,230-24.5%-5.0% nominal
8Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks$44,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,690 – $77,980-23.6%-3.8% nominal
9Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$43,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,190 – $71,640-21.7%-1.4% nominal
10Social Workers, All Other$63,490
Bachelor's degree
$44,440 – $116,230-20.5%+0.1% nominal
11Personal Financial Advisors$96,880
Bachelor's degree
$48,790 – $287,290-20.2%+0.5% nominal
12Skincare Specialists$39,120
Postsecondary nondegree award
$25,570 – $96,660-19.4%+1.5% nominal
13First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$59,560
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,800 – $110,790-18.6%+2.6% nominal
14English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary$63,370
Doctoral or professional degree
$42,620 – $99,810-17.0%+4.5% nominal
15Construction Managers$106,640
Bachelor's degree
$68,960 – $176,690-16.8%+4.8% nominal
16First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$91,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,650 – $180,680-16.8%+4.8% nominal
17Occupational Therapy Assistants$69,390
Associate's degree
$55,130 – $83,360-16.6%+5.1% nominal
18Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$49,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,500 – $72,220-15.9%+5.9% nominal
19Business Teachers, Postsecondary$79,600
Doctoral or professional degree
$42,480 – $173,320-15.5%+6.4% nominal
20Education Teachers, Postsecondary$70,050
Doctoral or professional degree
$41,030 – $105,820-15.4%+6.5% nominal
21Medical Equipment Repairers$59,190
Associate's degree
$35,510 – $88,750-15.4%+6.6% nominal
22Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$52,010
Bachelor's degree
$44,660 – $61,770-15.3%+6.7% nominal
23Parts Salespersons$32,480
No formal educational credential
$25,460 – $56,680-14.5%+7.7% nominal
24Education Administrators, Postsecondary$101,060
Master's degree
$64,490 – $185,140-14.5%+7.7% nominal
25Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$106,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$66,090 – $191,650-14.4%+7.8% nominal
26Training and Development Managers$126,200
Bachelor's degree
$78,210 – $211,340-14.4%+7.8% nominal
27Pharmacists$138,860
Doctoral or professional degree
$101,670 – $169,820-14.2%+8.1% nominal
28Cargo and Freight Agents$48,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,990 – $68,410-14.2%+8.1% nominal
29Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors$51,810
Bachelor's degree
$40,440 – $72,130-14.1%+8.1% nominal
30Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$61,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,470 – $111,430-13.6%+8.9% nominal
31Private Detectives and Investigators$52,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,600 – $98,560-13.5%+8.9% nominal
32Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists$67,970
Bachelor's degree
$47,590 – $127,490-13.4%+9.1% nominal
33Instructional Coordinators$63,340
Master's degree
$46,370 – $95,150-13.1%+9.4% nominal
34Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$61,420
Master's degree
$44,600 – $83,650-12.7%+9.9% nominal
35Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$53,180
Bachelor's degree
$40,760 – $63,620-12.7%+10.0% nominal
36Physical Therapist Assistants$67,540
Associate's degree
$56,100 – $80,850-12.7%+10.0% nominal
37First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$56,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,770 – $76,210-12.6%+10.1% nominal
38Training and Development Specialists$65,250
Bachelor's degree
$33,170 – $115,110-12.5%+10.1% nominal
39Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$56,770
Bachelor's degree
$45,200 – $70,600-12.4%+10.4% nominal
40Insurance Underwriters$77,120
Bachelor's degree
$48,560 – $129,980-12.4%+10.3% nominal
41Health Education Specialists$58,080
Bachelor's degree
$44,410 – $99,140-12.3%+10.5% nominal
42Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$57,630
Master's degree
$40,400 – $74,070-12.2%+10.5% nominal
43Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$58,600
Bachelor's degree
$46,850 – $69,590-12.1%+10.7% nominal
44Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers$46,890
Some college, no degree
$34,950 – $63,600-11.7%+11.2% nominal
45Operations Research Analysts$97,290
Bachelor's degree
$60,180 – $130,980-11.6%+11.3% nominal
46Automotive Body and Related Repairers$50,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,630 – $83,250-11.4%+11.6% nominal
47Writers and Authors$63,660
Bachelor's degree
$42,180 – $117,820-11.2%+11.8% nominal
48First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$60,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,020 – $85,850-10.8%+12.4% nominal
49Occupational Therapists$92,940
Master's degree
$62,230 – $118,300-10.8%+12.3% nominal
50Medical and Health Services Managers$114,410
Bachelor's degree
$70,680 – $217,420-10.8%+12.3% 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	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$55,460	$38,650 – $101,850	-34.3%-17.2% nominal
2	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$33,880	$23,250 – $61,030	-29.1%-10.7% nominal
3	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$81,070	$26,170 – $134,780	-28.9%-10.4% nominal
4	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$49,200	$47,720 – $99,940	-27.9%-9.2% nominal
5	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$55,350	$40,600 – $75,280	-26.9%-8.0% nominal
6	Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$103,220	$60,110 – $329,800	-26.9%-7.9% nominal
7	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$101,950	$48,340 – $238,230	-24.5%-5.0% nominal
8	Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,630	$35,690 – $77,980	-23.6%-3.8% nominal
9	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,720	$31,190 – $71,640	-21.7%-1.4% nominal
10	Social Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$63,490	$44,440 – $116,230	-20.5%+0.1% nominal
11	Personal Financial AdvisorsBachelor's degree	$96,880	$48,790 – $287,290	-20.2%+0.5% nominal
12	Skincare SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$39,120	$25,570 – $96,660	-19.4%+1.5% nominal
13	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,560	$44,800 – $110,790	-18.6%+2.6% nominal
14	English Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$63,370	$42,620 – $99,810	-17.0%+4.5% nominal
15	Construction ManagersBachelor's degree	$106,640	$68,960 – $176,690	-16.8%+4.8% nominal
16	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$91,200	$53,650 – $180,680	-16.8%+4.8% nominal
17	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$69,390	$55,130 – $83,360	-16.6%+5.1% nominal
18	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,650	$38,500 – $72,220	-15.9%+5.9% nominal
19	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$79,600	$42,480 – $173,320	-15.5%+6.4% nominal
20	Education Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$70,050	$41,030 – $105,820	-15.4%+6.5% nominal
21	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$59,190	$35,510 – $88,750	-15.4%+6.6% nominal
22	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$52,010	$44,660 – $61,770	-15.3%+6.7% nominal
23	Parts SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$32,480	$25,460 – $56,680	-14.5%+7.7% nominal
24	Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$101,060	$64,490 – $185,140	-14.5%+7.7% nominal
25	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$106,100	$66,090 – $191,650	-14.4%+7.8% nominal
26	Training and Development ManagersBachelor's degree	$126,200	$78,210 – $211,340	-14.4%+7.8% nominal
27	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$138,860	$101,670 – $169,820	-14.2%+8.1% nominal
28	Cargo and Freight AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,000	$35,990 – $68,410	-14.2%+8.1% nominal
29	Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language InstructorsBachelor's degree	$51,810	$40,440 – $72,130	-14.1%+8.1% nominal
30	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,430	$38,470 – $111,430	-13.6%+8.9% nominal
31	Private Detectives and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,890	$36,600 – $98,560	-13.5%+8.9% nominal
32	Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$67,970	$47,590 – $127,490	-13.4%+9.1% nominal
33	Instructional CoordinatorsMaster's degree	$63,340	$46,370 – $95,150	-13.1%+9.4% nominal
34	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$61,420	$44,600 – $83,650	-12.7%+9.9% nominal
35	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$53,180	$40,760 – $63,620	-12.7%+10.0% nominal
36	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$67,540	$56,100 – $80,850	-12.7%+10.0% nominal
37	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,930	$44,770 – $76,210	-12.6%+10.1% nominal
38	Training and Development SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$65,250	$33,170 – $115,110	-12.5%+10.1% nominal
39	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$56,770	$45,200 – $70,600	-12.4%+10.4% nominal
40	Insurance UnderwritersBachelor's degree	$77,120	$48,560 – $129,980	-12.4%+10.3% nominal
41	Health Education SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$58,080	$44,410 – $99,140	-12.3%+10.5% nominal
42	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$57,630	$40,400 – $74,070	-12.2%+10.5% nominal
43	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$58,600	$46,850 – $69,590	-12.1%+10.7% nominal
44	Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine RepairersSome college, no degree	$46,890	$34,950 – $63,600	-11.7%+11.2% nominal
45	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$97,290	$60,180 – $130,980	-11.6%+11.3% nominal
46	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,520	$36,630 – $83,250	-11.4%+11.6% nominal
47	Writers and AuthorsBachelor's degree	$63,660	$42,180 – $117,820	-11.2%+11.8% nominal
48	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,070	$41,020 – $85,850	-10.8%+12.4% nominal
49	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$92,940	$62,230 – $118,300	-10.8%+12.3% nominal
50	Medical and Health Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$114,410	$70,680 – $217,420	-10.8%+12.3% 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 lost the most to inflation in North Carolina

More for North Carolina

Metro areas in North Carolina

By field in North Carolina

Without a degree

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in each state