Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC

Each occupation's median wage in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC 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 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC run 2.7% below the national average (2024), so a Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC salary is worth about 1.03× 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 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC

OccupationMedian, Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC · vs. national

1Chief Executives$329,030
Bachelor's degree
$114,100 – $599,990+53.8%
2Private Detectives and Investigators$73,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,370 – $99,090+43.4%
3Physicians, All Other$327,040
Doctoral or professional degree
$74,580 – $452,850+23.0%
4Real Estate Sales Agents$63,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,960 – $158,660+21.0%
5Loan Interviewers and Clerks$60,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,930 – $71,890+21.0%
6Credit Analysts$100,640
Bachelor's degree
$65,990 – $165,330+20.5%
7Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$124,370
Bachelor's degree
$58,860 – $215,660+18.5%
8Operations Research Analysts$105,180
Bachelor's degree
$62,100 – $131,730+18.3%
9Financial Clerks, All Other$63,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,310 – $100,620+18.2%
10Commercial Pilots$144,750
Postsecondary nondegree award
$67,070 – $265,710+17.5%
11Nurse Anesthetists$277,550
Master's degree
$222,510 – $334,180+17.3%
12Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$117,170
Doctoral or professional degree
$51,940 – $256,700+16.5%
13Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$52,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,550 – $82,770+15.1%
14Financial Risk Specialists$133,530
Bachelor's degree
$82,840 – $214,540+13.8%
15Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$72,600
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,360 – $95,010+13.6%
16Financial Examiners$105,240
Bachelor's degree
$67,200 – $167,690+11.8%
17Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$52,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,620 – $68,270+11.3%
18Accountants and Auditors$92,910
Bachelor's degree
$59,200 – $167,330+11.0%
19Dentists, General$189,220
Doctoral or professional degree
$103,490 – $312,000+10.7%
20Data Scientists$132,460
Bachelor's degree
$70,790 – $171,200+10.2%
21Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$118,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$71,250 – $206,860+10.1%
22Web Developers$101,980
Bachelor's degree
$61,790 – $152,890+10.1%
23Managers, All Other$156,020
Bachelor's degree
$84,080 – $272,240+10.0%
24Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$46,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,170 – $48,150+9.9%
25First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$96,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,750 – $196,700+9.7%
26Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$51,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,600 – $60,050+9.6%
27Sales Managers$162,000
Bachelor's degree
$76,540 – $311,420+9.3%
28Opticians, Dispensing$51,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,380 – $81,910+9.2%
29Database Administrators$113,890
Bachelor's degree
$64,770 – $164,220+8.9%
30Bartenders$37,390
No formal educational credential
$17,300 – $78,780+8.9%
31Food Service Managers$75,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,900 – $112,090+8.7%
32Financial Specialists, All Other$87,530
Bachelor's degree
$58,820 – $156,540+7.9%
33Surveying and Mapping Technicians$58,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,900 – $71,610+7.8%
34Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$38,530
Postsecondary nondegree award
$28,160 – $61,530+7.7%
35Compliance Officers$86,720
Bachelor's degree
$48,490 – $141,780+7.4%
36First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$47,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,820 – $74,870+7.3%
37Pharmacists$150,580
Doctoral or professional degree
$91,770 – $173,930+6.9%
38Tellers$45,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,580 – $54,280+6.7%
39General and Operations Managers$112,730
Bachelor's degree
$55,750 – $274,620+6.6%
40Human Resources Managers$158,930
Bachelor's degree
$99,310 – $292,290+6.5%
41Production Workers, All Other$42,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,550 – $61,210+6.3%
42Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$40,640
No formal educational credential
$35,860 – $40,640+6.1%
43Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$53,660
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,470 – $88,130+6.0%
44Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$82,930
Bachelor's degree
$47,960 – $160,460+5.3%
45Library Technicians$46,900
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,110 – $56,750+5.2%
46Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,570 – $68,210+5.2%
47First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services$51,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,160 – $80,910+5.2%
48Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers$41,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,970 – $50,940+5.0%
49Order Clerks$48,320
Some college, no degree
$33,600 – $64,830+4.7%
50Computer Systems Analysts$110,790
Bachelor's degree
$76,360 – $168,660+4.7%

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

#	Occupation	MedianCharlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$329,030	$114,100 – $599,990	+53.8%
2	Private Detectives and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,430	$39,370 – $99,090	+43.4%
3	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$327,040	$74,580 – $452,850	+23.0%
4	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,930	$30,960 – $158,660	+21.0%
5	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,510	$39,930 – $71,890	+21.0%
6	Credit AnalystsBachelor's degree	$100,640	$65,990 – $165,330	+20.5%
7	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree	$124,370	$58,860 – $215,660	+18.5%
8	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$105,180	$62,100 – $131,730	+18.3%
9	Financial Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,640	$48,310 – $100,620	+18.2%
10	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$144,750	$67,070 – $265,710	+17.5%
11	Nurse AnesthetistsMaster's degree	$277,550	$222,510 – $334,180	+17.3%
12	Clinical and Counseling PsychologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$117,170	$51,940 – $256,700	+16.5%
13	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,570	$38,550 – $82,770	+15.1%
14	Financial Risk SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$133,530	$82,840 – $214,540	+13.8%
15	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$72,600	$49,360 – $95,010	+13.6%
16	Financial ExaminersBachelor's degree	$105,240	$67,200 – $167,690	+11.8%
17	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,530	$38,620 – $68,270	+11.3%
18	Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree	$92,910	$59,200 – $167,330	+11.0%
19	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$189,220	$103,490 – $312,000	+10.7%
20	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$132,460	$70,790 – $171,200	+10.2%
21	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$118,100	$71,250 – $206,860	+10.1%
22	Web DevelopersBachelor's degree	$101,980	$61,790 – $152,890	+10.1%
23	Managers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$156,020	$84,080 – $272,240	+10.0%
24	Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,540	$38,170 – $48,150	+9.9%
25	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,030	$57,750 – $196,700	+9.7%
26	Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,000	$39,600 – $60,050	+9.6%
27	Sales ManagersBachelor's degree	$162,000	$76,540 – $311,420	+9.3%
28	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,620	$38,380 – $81,910	+9.2%
29	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$113,890	$64,770 – $164,220	+8.9%
30	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$37,390	$17,300 – $78,780	+8.9%
31	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,460	$56,900 – $112,090	+8.7%
32	Financial Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$87,530	$58,820 – $156,540	+7.9%
33	Surveying and Mapping TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,480	$38,900 – $71,610	+7.8%
34	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$38,530	$28,160 – $61,530	+7.7%
35	Compliance OfficersBachelor's degree	$86,720	$48,490 – $141,780	+7.4%
36	First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,280	$34,820 – $74,870	+7.3%
37	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$150,580	$91,770 – $173,930	+6.9%
38	TellersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,910	$38,580 – $54,280	+6.7%
39	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$112,730	$55,750 – $274,620	+6.6%
40	Human Resources ManagersBachelor's degree	$158,930	$99,310 – $292,290	+6.5%
41	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,620	$31,550 – $61,210	+6.3%
42	Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and TrimmersNo formal educational credential	$40,640	$35,860 – $40,640	+6.1%
43	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$53,660	$34,470 – $88,130	+6.0%
44	Market Research Analysts and Marketing SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$82,930	$47,960 – $160,460	+5.3%
45	Library TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$46,900	$37,110 – $56,750	+5.2%
46	Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,120	$35,570 – $68,210	+5.2%
47	First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling ServicesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,080	$35,160 – $80,910	+5.2%
48	Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,630	$31,970 – $50,940	+5.0%
49	Order ClerksSome college, no degree	$48,320	$33,600 – $64,830	+4.7%
50	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$110,790	$76,360 – $168,660	+4.7%

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The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC to rank honestly.

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC

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