Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Burlington, NC

Each occupation's median wage in Burlington, NC compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Burlington, NC pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Burlington, NC run 6.8% below the national average (2024), so a Burlington, NC salary is worth about 1.07× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

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

Find high paying jobs in Burlington, NC

OccupationMedian, Burlington, NC · vs. national

1Physicians, All Other$350,130
Doctoral or professional degree
$118,670 – $428,660+31.7%
2Self-Enrichment Teachers$58,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$22,030 – $77,970+26.0%
3Tool and Die Makers$78,140
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,390 – $78,140+22.0%
4Opticians, Dispensing$55,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,850 – $76,110+17.5%
5Interior Designers$77,590
Bachelor's degree
$32,060 – $90,190+15.5%
6Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping$52,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,480 – $65,680+13.0%
7Computer Systems Analysts$118,590
Bachelor's degree
$72,600 – $157,520+12.0%
8Physical Therapist Assistants$76,010
Associate's degree
$60,130 – $81,860+11.2%
9Emergency Medical Technicians$49,180
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,800 – $49,180+10.6%
10Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$43,750
No formal educational credential
$30,160 – $43,900+8.7%
11Library Assistants, Clerical$39,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,200 – $46,740+8.1%
12Printing Press Operators$48,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,330 – $67,350+6.3%
13First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services$51,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,540 – $75,240+5.7%
14Postal Service Clerks$65,170
No formal educational credential
$56,390 – $75,030+4.9%
15Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$50,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,370 – $65,620+4.6%
16Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$46,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,470 – $58,590+4.5%
17Dental Assistants$50,140
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,910 – $57,360+4.3%
18Purchasing Managers$152,870
Bachelor's degree
$78,240 – $209,090+3.2%
19Tellers$43,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,090 – $48,760+2.2%
20Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$66,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,760 – $82,370+2.1%
21Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$46,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,770 – $66,170+1.3%
22Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers$33,300
No formal educational credential
$21,810 – $33,300+1.2%
23Postal Service Mail Carriers$61,010
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,620+0.8%
24Loan Interviewers and Clerks$50,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$19,360 – $60,060+0.8%
25Food Processing Workers, All Other$39,800
No formal educational credential
$36,550 – $47,290+0.3%
26Veterinarians$129,800
Doctoral or professional degree
$70,720 – $205,870-0.2%
27Billing and Posting Clerks$48,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,410 – $61,050-0.2%
28Nurse Practitioners$131,980
Master's degree
$106,960 – $163,100-0.2%
29Civil Engineers$100,220
Bachelor's degree
$65,920 – $153,640-0.6%
30Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$79,550
Associate's degree
$48,620 – $94,220-0.7%
31Electrical Engineers$119,650
Bachelor's degree
$77,640 – $170,910-0.8%
32Dental Hygienists$97,210
Associate's degree
$80,100 – $102,800-0.9%
33First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$43,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,430 – $60,930-1.1%
34Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$77,860
Bachelor's degree
$42,490 – $129,690-1.1%
35New Accounts Clerks$47,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,670 – $72,840-1.2%
36Marketing Managers$164,770
Bachelor's degree
$97,160 – $278,500-1.2%
37Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$63,450
Postsecondary nondegree award
$56,580 – $77,970-1.5%
38Physical Therapists$101,120
Doctoral or professional degree
$74,980 – $129,370-1.6%
39First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$48,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,860 – $70,100-1.7%
40Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$60,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,500 – $78,360-1.8%
41Couriers and Messengers$38,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,560 – $42,220-2.2%
42Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers$38,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,560 – $48,300-2.2%
43First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$47,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,120 – $74,730-2.4%
44Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other$36,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,150 – $47,580-2.4%
45Social and Community Service Managers$78,350
Bachelor's degree
$48,220 – $106,220-2.5%
46Natural Sciences Managers$163,020
Bachelor's degree
$77,960 – $297,630-2.5%
47Dentists, General$166,330
Doctoral or professional degree
$111,600 – $318,380-2.7%
48Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$34,700
Postsecondary nondegree award
$24,340 – $59,240-3.0%
49Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$103,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,750 – $169,720-3.3%
50Bakers$35,950
No formal educational credential
$23,690 – $41,740-3.3%

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

#	Occupation	MedianBurlington, NC	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$350,130	$118,670 – $428,660	+31.7%
2	Self-Enrichment TeachersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,970	$22,030 – $77,970	+26.0%
3	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,140	$49,390 – $78,140	+22.0%
4	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,530	$36,850 – $76,110	+17.5%
5	Interior DesignersBachelor's degree	$77,590	$32,060 – $90,190	+15.5%
6	Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, RecordkeepingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,390	$38,480 – $65,680	+13.0%
7	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$118,590	$72,600 – $157,520	+12.0%
8	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$76,010	$60,130 – $81,860	+11.2%
9	Emergency Medical TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,180	$38,800 – $49,180	+10.6%
10	Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNo formal educational credential	$43,750	$30,160 – $43,900	+8.7%
11	Library Assistants, ClericalHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,900	$33,200 – $46,740	+8.1%
12	Printing Press OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,650	$33,330 – $67,350	+6.3%
13	First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling ServicesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,330	$30,540 – $75,240	+5.7%
14	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$65,170	$56,390 – $75,030	+4.9%
15	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,960	$40,370 – $65,620	+4.6%
16	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,650	$30,470 – $58,590	+4.5%
17	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$50,140	$37,910 – $57,360	+4.3%
18	Purchasing ManagersBachelor's degree	$152,870	$78,240 – $209,090	+3.2%
19	TellersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,960	$38,090 – $48,760	+2.2%
20	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,860	$39,760 – $82,370	+2.1%
21	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,280	$33,770 – $66,170	+1.3%
22	Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket TakersNo formal educational credential	$33,300	$21,810 – $33,300	+1.2%
23	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$61,010	$42,390 – $81,620	+0.8%
24	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,420	$19,360 – $60,060	+0.8%
25	Food Processing Workers, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$39,800	$36,550 – $47,290	+0.3%
26	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$129,800	$70,720 – $205,870	-0.2%
27	Billing and Posting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,380	$37,410 – $61,050	-0.2%
28	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$131,980	$106,960 – $163,100	-0.2%
29	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$100,220	$65,920 – $153,640	-0.6%
30	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,550	$48,620 – $94,220	-0.7%
31	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$119,650	$77,640 – $170,910	-0.8%
32	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$97,210	$80,100 – $102,800	-0.9%
33	First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,590	$29,430 – $60,930	-1.1%
34	Market Research Analysts and Marketing SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$77,860	$42,490 – $129,690	-1.1%
35	New Accounts ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,110	$44,670 – $72,840	-1.2%
36	Marketing ManagersBachelor's degree	$164,770	$97,160 – $278,500	-1.2%
37	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,450	$56,580 – $77,970	-1.5%
38	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$101,120	$74,980 – $129,370	-1.6%
39	First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,280	$35,860 – $70,100	-1.7%
40	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,680	$40,500 – $78,360	-1.8%
41	Couriers and MessengersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,340	$34,560 – $42,220	-2.2%
42	Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,760	$29,560 – $48,300	-2.2%
43	First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,340	$33,120 – $74,730	-2.4%
44	Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,380	$26,150 – $47,580	-2.4%
45	Social and Community Service ManagersBachelor's degree	$78,350	$48,220 – $106,220	-2.5%
46	Natural Sciences ManagersBachelor's degree	$163,020	$77,960 – $297,630	-2.5%
47	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$166,330	$111,600 – $318,380	-2.7%
48	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$34,700	$24,340 – $59,240	-3.0%
49	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,690	$60,750 – $169,720	-3.3%
50	BakersNo formal educational credential	$35,950	$23,690 – $41,740	-3.3%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Burlington, NC

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