Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC

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

Cost of living: prices in Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC run 11.7% below the national average (2024), so a Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC salary is worth about 1.13× 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 Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC

OccupationMedian, Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC · vs. national

1Physicians, All Other$338,170
Doctoral or professional degree
$182,880 – $363,150+27.2%
2Bartenders$37,700
No formal educational credential
$16,050 – $76,330+9.8%
3Self-Enrichment Teachers$50,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,110 – $101,750+8.5%
4Food Service Managers$74,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,310 – $103,940+7.8%
5Postal Service Clerks$65,170
No formal educational credential
$56,740 – $75,030+4.9%
6Light Truck Drivers$46,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,480 – $96,830+3.9%
7Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$50,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,520 – $65,570+2.8%
8First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers$49,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,810 – $57,520+2.8%
9Tellers$44,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,840 – $47,690+2.7%
10First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$44,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,010 – $61,520+1.4%
11Natural Sciences Managers$168,850
Bachelor's degree
$56,760 – $284,340+1.0%
12Chefs and Head Cooks$62,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,480 – $95,540-0.3%
13Dental Hygienists$95,900
Associate's degree
$65,040 – $100,470-2.2%
14Construction Laborers$45,900
No formal educational credential
$35,200 – $58,070-2.6%
15Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$36,470
No formal educational credential
$28,810 – $43,620-2.6%
16Helpers--Electricians$41,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,780 – $41,430-2.9%
17Veterinarians$126,190
Doctoral or professional degree
$77,130 – $198,980-3.0%
18Physician Assistants$131,770
Master's degree
$100,210 – $161,470-3.0%
19Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$101,140
Bachelor's degree
$73,070 – $131,190-3.0%
20Waiters and Waitresses$34,080
No formal educational credential
$16,580 – $61,540-3.3%
21Training and Development Specialists$66,810
Bachelor's degree
$33,500 – $102,320-3.6%
22Massage Therapists$56,260
Postsecondary nondegree award
$28,560 – $89,980-3.7%
23Personal Financial Advisors$101,040
Bachelor's degree
$42,530 – $228,360-3.8%
24Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$48,640
Postsecondary nondegree award
$30,950 – $79,040-3.9%
25First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$76,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,210 – $114,900-4.0%
26Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$61,730
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,400 – $70,790-4.1%
27First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$46,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,040 – $71,330-4.2%
28Software Developers$130,240
Bachelor's degree
$75,210 – $162,120-4.2%
29Fundraisers$69,400
Bachelor's degree
$49,820 – $100,640-4.3%
30Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$51,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,120 – $51,880-4.3%
31Public Safety Telecommunicators$50,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,060 – $50,630-4.5%
32Cooks, Restaurant$35,690
No formal educational credential
$27,410 – $43,620-4.5%
33Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$37,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,550 – $57,490-4.6%
34Medical Assistants$43,530
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,170 – $48,140-4.7%
35Civil Engineers$95,800
Bachelor's degree
$70,890 – $149,330-5.0%
36Construction Managers$109,230
Bachelor's degree
$71,870 – $178,690-5.0%
37Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$47,710
Postsecondary nondegree award
$32,600 – $74,690-5.1%
38Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$43,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,130 – $60,890-5.2%
39Recreation Workers$34,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,890 – $47,130-5.4%
40Pharmacy Technicians$43,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,970 – $49,890-5.7%
41Nurse Practitioners$124,520
Master's degree
$103,710 – $169,870-5.9%
42Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$35,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,850 – $45,310-6.2%
43Pharmacists$132,170
Doctoral or professional degree
$100,270 – $164,590-6.2%
44Project Management Specialists$95,280
Bachelor's degree
$58,220 – $155,480-6.9%
45Butchers and Meat Cutters$37,240
No formal educational credential
$29,750 – $45,730-7.2%
46Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics$44,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,210 – $61,000-7.3%
47First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services$44,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,480 – $80,660-7.4%
48Medical Records Specialists$47,360
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,710 – $62,090-7.4%
49First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$54,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,890 – $73,710-7.5%
50Child, Family, and School Social Workers$55,030
Bachelor's degree
$37,610 – $71,970-7.6%

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

#	Occupation	MedianPinehurst-Southern Pines, NC	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$338,170	$182,880 – $363,150	+27.2%
2	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$37,700	$16,050 – $76,330	+9.8%
3	Self-Enrichment TeachersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,770	$29,110 – $101,750	+8.5%
4	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,770	$52,310 – $103,940	+7.8%
5	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$65,170	$56,740 – $75,030	+4.9%
6	Light Truck DriversHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,600	$26,480 – $96,830	+3.9%
7	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,060	$42,520 – $65,570	+2.8%
8	First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,960	$27,810 – $57,520	+2.8%
9	TellersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,180	$37,840 – $47,690	+2.7%
10	First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,680	$29,010 – $61,520	+1.4%
11	Natural Sciences ManagersBachelor's degree	$168,850	$56,760 – $284,340	+1.0%
12	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,260	$43,480 – $95,540	-0.3%
13	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$95,900	$65,040 – $100,470	-2.2%
14	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$45,900	$35,200 – $58,070	-2.6%
15	Cooks, Institution and CafeteriaNo formal educational credential	$36,470	$28,810 – $43,620	-2.6%
16	Helpers--ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,430	$33,780 – $41,430	-2.9%
17	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$126,190	$77,130 – $198,980	-3.0%
18	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$131,770	$100,210 – $161,470	-3.0%
19	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$101,140	$73,070 – $131,190	-3.0%
20	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$34,080	$16,580 – $61,540	-3.3%
21	Training and Development SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$66,810	$33,500 – $102,320	-3.6%
22	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,260	$28,560 – $89,980	-3.7%
23	Personal Financial AdvisorsBachelor's degree	$101,040	$42,530 – $228,360	-3.8%
24	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,640	$30,950 – $79,040	-3.9%
25	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,640	$48,210 – $114,900	-4.0%
26	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,730	$48,400 – $70,790	-4.1%
27	First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,500	$30,040 – $71,330	-4.2%
28	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$130,240	$75,210 – $162,120	-4.2%
29	FundraisersBachelor's degree	$69,400	$49,820 – $100,640	-4.3%
30	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,880	$37,120 – $51,880	-4.3%
31	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,630	$42,060 – $50,630	-4.5%
32	Cooks, RestaurantNo formal educational credential	$35,690	$27,410 – $43,620	-4.5%
33	Merchandise Displayers and Window TrimmersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,560	$27,550 – $57,490	-4.6%
34	Medical AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$43,530	$35,170 – $48,140	-4.7%
35	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$95,800	$70,890 – $149,330	-5.0%
36	Construction ManagersBachelor's degree	$109,230	$71,870 – $178,690	-5.0%
37	Health Technologists and Technicians, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$47,710	$32,600 – $74,690	-5.1%
38	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,280	$36,130 – $60,890	-5.2%
39	Recreation WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34,590	$26,890 – $47,130	-5.4%
40	Pharmacy TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,150	$35,970 – $49,890	-5.7%
41	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$124,520	$103,710 – $169,870	-5.9%
42	Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,780	$28,850 – $45,310	-6.2%
43	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$132,170	$100,270 – $164,590	-6.2%
44	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$95,280	$58,220 – $155,480	-6.9%
45	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$37,240	$29,750 – $45,730	-7.2%
46	Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,390	$30,210 – $61,000	-7.3%
47	First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling ServicesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,990	$28,480 – $80,660	-7.4%
48	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$47,360	$34,710 – $62,090	-7.4%
49	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,060	$42,890 – $73,710	-7.5%
50	Child, Family, and School Social WorkersBachelor's degree	$55,030	$37,610 – $71,970	-7.6%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC

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