Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC

Each occupation's median wage in Durham-Chapel Hill, 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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC run 2.4% below the national average (2024), so a Durham-Chapel Hill, NC salary is worth about 1.02× 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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC

OccupationMedian, Durham-Chapel Hill, NC · vs. national

1Chief Executives$381,330
Bachelor's degree
$113,920 – $765,300+78.2%
2Ophthalmic Medical Technicians$65,000
Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,740 – $74,180+42.6%
3Sales Engineers$175,310
Bachelor's degree
$88,710 – $290,910+40.4%
4Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$48,060
Postsecondary nondegree award
$28,610 – $77,880+34.3%
5Residential Advisors$56,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,230 – $61,060+33.0%
6Sales Managers$190,370
Bachelor's degree
$82,880 – $337,780+28.4%
7Web and Digital Interface Designers$133,340
Bachelor's degree
$62,580 – $172,420+28.2%
8Social Workers, All Other$91,080
Bachelor's degree
$44,440 – $123,280+26.7%
9Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$131,120
Bachelor's degree
$62,990 – $206,290+25.0%
10Management Analysts$126,110
Bachelor's degree
$75,430 – $170,810+23.8%
11Economists$152,130
Master's degree
$81,700 – $224,270+22.0%
12Dentists, General$208,490
Doctoral or professional degree
$119,990 – $333,410+22.0%
13Loan Interviewers and Clerks$60,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,070 – $72,080+20.5%
14Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$155,680
Bachelor's degree
$94,580 – $206,310+19.6%
15Health Education Specialists$76,380
Bachelor's degree
$44,430 – $147,370+19.2%
16Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$93,110
Bachelor's degree
$50,080 – $178,870+18.2%
17Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$122,980
Bachelor's degree
$65,280 – $166,820+17.9%
18First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$102,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,950 – $215,400+16.9%
19Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$50,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,660 – $65,330+16.3%
20Print Binding and Finishing Workers$49,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,120 – $63,770+16.1%
21Computer User Support Specialists$71,750
Some college, no degree
$46,390 – $133,000+16.0%
22Surveying and Mapping Technicians$62,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,190 – $78,310+15.1%
23Business Operations Specialists, All Other$95,460
Bachelor's degree
$53,520 – $146,470+14.9%
24First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$55,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,680 – $76,630+14.0%
25Real Estate Sales Agents$60,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,340 – $159,370+14.0%
26Healthcare Social Workers$77,160
Master's degree
$46,740 – $80,980+13.7%
27Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health$62,650
Associate's degree
$46,310 – $80,290+13.7%
28First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services$55,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,670 – $80,990+13.4%
29Life Scientists, All Other$105,850
Bachelor's degree
$63,940 – $174,250+12.9%
30Database Administrators$117,950
Bachelor's degree
$72,330 – $165,710+12.7%
31Billing and Posting Clerks$54,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,880 – $66,900+12.5%
32Medical Records Specialists$57,290
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,730 – $82,040+12.0%
33File Clerks$48,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,470 – $61,280+11.7%
34Network and Computer Systems Administrators$110,640
Bachelor's degree
$65,200 – $166,440+11.6%
35Facilities Managers$118,990
Bachelor's degree
$70,420 – $177,170+11.6%
36Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$50,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,630 – $71,180+11.1%
37Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$74,980
Master's degree
$51,410 – $101,500+9.8%
38Natural Sciences Managers$183,540
Bachelor's degree
$117,370 – $317,740+9.8%
39Dietetic Technicians$41,260
Associate's degree
$30,580 – $44,450+9.6%
40Writers and Authors$84,130
Bachelor's degree
$47,980 – $117,890+9.4%
41Industrial Production Managers$137,950
Bachelor's degree
$86,710 – $216,320+9.4%
42Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$98,490
Bachelor's degree
$66,930 – $139,120+9.3%
43Food Service Managers$75,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,840 – $105,170+9.2%
44Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$84,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,980 – $111,050+8.9%
45Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$54,610
Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,200 – $95,890+8.6%
46Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$116,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$70,890 – $227,410+8.5%
47Purchasing Managers$160,370
Bachelor's degree
$108,340 – $229,660+8.3%
48Computer Occupations, All Other$126,300
Bachelor's degree
$63,060 – $174,170+8.3%
49Computer Hardware Engineers$175,110
Bachelor's degree
$99,900 – $294,880+8.3%
50Physical Therapist Assistants$73,970
Associate's degree
$55,230 – $85,470+8.2%

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

#	Occupation	MedianDurham-Chapel Hill, NC	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$381,330	$113,920 – $765,300	+78.2%
2	Ophthalmic Medical TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,000	$42,740 – $74,180	+42.6%
3	Sales EngineersBachelor's degree	$175,310	$88,710 – $290,910	+40.4%
4	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,060	$28,610 – $77,880	+34.3%
5	Residential AdvisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,170	$36,230 – $61,060	+33.0%
6	Sales ManagersBachelor's degree	$190,370	$82,880 – $337,780	+28.4%
7	Web and Digital Interface DesignersBachelor's degree	$133,340	$62,580 – $172,420	+28.2%
8	Social Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$91,080	$44,440 – $123,280	+26.7%
9	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree	$131,120	$62,990 – $206,290	+25.0%
10	Management AnalystsBachelor's degree	$126,110	$75,430 – $170,810	+23.8%
11	EconomistsMaster's degree	$152,130	$81,700 – $224,270	+22.0%
12	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$208,490	$119,990 – $333,410	+22.0%
13	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,260	$36,070 – $72,080	+20.5%
14	Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree	$155,680	$94,580 – $206,310	+19.6%
15	Health Education SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$76,380	$44,430 – $147,370	+19.2%
16	Market Research Analysts and Marketing SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$93,110	$50,080 – $178,870	+18.2%
17	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$122,980	$65,280 – $166,820	+17.9%
18	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,300	$58,950 – $215,400	+16.9%
19	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,260	$32,660 – $65,330	+16.3%
20	Print Binding and Finishing WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,110	$37,120 – $63,770	+16.1%
21	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$71,750	$46,390 – $133,000	+16.0%
22	Surveying and Mapping TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,420	$47,190 – $78,310	+15.1%
23	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$95,460	$53,520 – $146,470	+14.9%
24	First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,990	$36,680 – $76,630	+14.0%
25	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,230	$37,340 – $159,370	+14.0%
26	Healthcare Social WorkersMaster's degree	$77,160	$46,740 – $80,980	+13.7%
27	Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthAssociate's degree	$62,650	$46,310 – $80,290	+13.7%
28	First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling ServicesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,050	$36,670 – $80,990	+13.4%
29	Life Scientists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$105,850	$63,940 – $174,250	+12.9%
30	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$117,950	$72,330 – $165,710	+12.7%
31	Billing and Posting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,560	$39,880 – $66,900	+12.5%
32	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,290	$40,730 – $82,040	+12.0%
33	File ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,720	$36,470 – $61,280	+11.7%
34	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$110,640	$65,200 – $166,440	+11.6%
35	Facilities ManagersBachelor's degree	$118,990	$70,420 – $177,170	+11.6%
36	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,720	$37,630 – $71,180	+11.1%
37	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$74,980	$51,410 – $101,500	+9.8%
38	Natural Sciences ManagersBachelor's degree	$183,540	$117,370 – $317,740	+9.8%
39	Dietetic TechniciansAssociate's degree	$41,260	$30,580 – $44,450	+9.6%
40	Writers and AuthorsBachelor's degree	$84,130	$47,980 – $117,890	+9.4%
41	Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree	$137,950	$86,710 – $216,320	+9.4%
42	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$98,490	$66,930 – $139,120	+9.3%
43	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,800	$51,840 – $105,170	+9.2%
44	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,930	$56,980 – $111,050	+8.9%
45	Health Technologists and Technicians, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$54,610	$42,200 – $95,890	+8.6%
46	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$116,310	$70,890 – $227,410	+8.5%
47	Purchasing ManagersBachelor's degree	$160,370	$108,340 – $229,660	+8.3%
48	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$126,300	$63,060 – $174,170	+8.3%
49	Computer Hardware EngineersBachelor's degree	$175,110	$99,900 – $294,880	+8.3%
50	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$73,970	$55,230 – $85,470	+8.2%

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The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC to rank honestly.

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC

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