Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Raleigh-Cary, NC

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

Cost of living: prices in Raleigh-Cary, NC run 1.8% below the national average (2024), so a Raleigh-Cary, 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 Raleigh-Cary, NC

OccupationMedian, Raleigh-Cary, NC · vs. national

1Chief Executives$286,050
Bachelor's degree
$114,160 – $664,790+33.7%
2Physicians, All Other$354,130
Doctoral or professional degree
$173,530 – $361,270+33.2%
3Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary$137,290
Doctoral or professional degree
$83,570 – $173,080+25.6%
4Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$162,800
Bachelor's degree
$92,840 – $172,300+25.0%
5Surveyors$93,660
Bachelor's degree
$48,480 – $154,320+24.2%
6Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$81,560
Associate's degree
$56,880 – $100,920+23.4%
7Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$104,290
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,530 – $169,030+23.2%
8Food Processing Workers, All Other$48,600
No formal educational credential
$37,830 – $48,600+22.5%
9Massage Therapists$71,480
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,660 – $95,280+22.3%
10Dental Assistants$58,750
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,410 – $64,390+22.2%
11Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$43,700
Postsecondary nondegree award
$27,300 – $70,550+22.1%
12Dentists, General$207,380
Doctoral or professional degree
$132,880 – $378,960+21.3%
13Optometrists$163,290
Doctoral or professional degree
$100,240 – $213,860+19.6%
14Driver/Sales Workers$45,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$22,060 – $58,240+17.7%
15Database Administrators$122,950
Bachelor's degree
$76,360 – $163,550+17.5%
16First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$101,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,370 – $190,270+16.2%
17Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$91,600
Postsecondary nondegree award
$64,020 – $141,030+14.7%
18General Internal Medicine Physicians$291,060
Doctoral or professional degree
$168,840 – $348,230+13.4%
19Property Appraisers and Assessors$76,760
Bachelor's degree
$47,290 – $109,990+12.9%
20Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$48,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,410 – $61,730+12.2%
21Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$54,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,670 – $71,620+11.6%
22Biological Technicians$64,200
Bachelor's degree
$48,850 – $83,990+11.6%
23Information Security Analysts$143,640
Bachelor's degree
$78,870 – $168,050+11.2%
24Emergency Medical Technicians$49,160
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,700 – $64,770+10.5%
25Data Entry Keyers$45,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,120 – $52,920+10.4%
26First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers$61,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,270 – $85,230+10.3%
27Sales Managers$163,520
Bachelor's degree
$75,610 – $303,060+10.3%
28Maintenance Workers, Machinery$67,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,420 – $93,880+10.2%
29Food Service Managers$76,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,010 – $103,570+9.8%
30File Clerks$47,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,200 – $60,240+9.1%
31Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks$48,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,260 – $79,920+8.8%
32General and Operations Managers$114,940
Bachelor's degree
$56,020 – $268,030+8.7%
33Electrical Engineers$130,240
Bachelor's degree
$73,380 – $221,050+8.0%
34Paramedics$65,220
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,940 – $75,950+7.6%
35Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$84,140
Master's degree
$45,460 – $134,530+7.0%
36Social and Community Service Managers$85,850
Bachelor's degree
$59,200 – $128,470+6.8%
37Bill and Account Collectors$50,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,910 – $77,910+6.7%
38Respiratory Therapists$87,820
Associate's degree
$67,420 – $108,150+6.7%
39Farm and Home Management Educators$64,280
Master's degree
$51,100 – $83,920+6.7%
40Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other$60,410
Bachelor's degree
$43,360 – $75,690+6.5%
41Medical Records Specialists$54,340
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,130 – $93,950+6.3%
42Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$45,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,000 – $53,650+6.3%
43Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$110,800
Bachelor's degree
$65,970 – $170,750+6.2%
44Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$50,240
Associate's degree
$37,120 – $59,820+6.0%
45Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$56,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,460 – $71,800+5.9%
46Social Science Research Assistants$65,330
Bachelor's degree
$50,550 – $86,150+5.4%
47Chemical Technicians$63,640
Associate's degree
$44,280 – $82,150+5.4%
48Child, Family, and School Social Workers$62,700
Bachelor's degree
$44,700 – $76,950+5.3%
49Billing and Posting Clerks$51,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,590 – $66,600+5.3%
50Tellers$45,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,150 – $50,450+5.3%

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

#	Occupation	MedianRaleigh-Cary, NC	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$286,050	$114,160 – $664,790	+33.7%
2	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$354,130	$173,530 – $361,270	+33.2%
3	Engineering Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$137,290	$83,570 – $173,080	+25.6%
4	Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree	$162,800	$92,840 – $172,300	+25.0%
5	SurveyorsBachelor's degree	$93,660	$48,480 – $154,320	+24.2%
6	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$81,560	$56,880 – $100,920	+23.4%
7	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$104,290	$62,530 – $169,030	+23.2%
8	Food Processing Workers, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$48,600	$37,830 – $48,600	+22.5%
9	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$71,480	$40,660 – $95,280	+22.3%
10	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,750	$40,410 – $64,390	+22.2%
11	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$43,700	$27,300 – $70,550	+22.1%
12	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$207,380	$132,880 – $378,960	+21.3%
13	OptometristsDoctoral or professional degree	$163,290	$100,240 – $213,860	+19.6%
14	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,630	$22,060 – $58,240	+17.7%
15	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$122,950	$76,360 – $163,550	+17.5%
16	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,680	$57,370 – $190,270	+16.2%
17	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$91,600	$64,020 – $141,030	+14.7%
18	General Internal Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$291,060	$168,840 – $348,230	+13.4%
19	Property Appraisers and AssessorsBachelor's degree	$76,760	$47,290 – $109,990	+12.9%
20	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,480	$28,410 – $61,730	+12.2%
21	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,360	$43,670 – $71,620	+11.6%
22	Biological TechniciansBachelor's degree	$64,200	$48,850 – $83,990	+11.6%
23	Information Security AnalystsBachelor's degree	$143,640	$78,870 – $168,050	+11.2%
24	Emergency Medical TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,160	$36,700 – $64,770	+10.5%
25	Data Entry KeyersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,620	$34,120 – $52,920	+10.4%
26	First-Line Supervisors of Security WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,710	$35,270 – $85,230	+10.3%
27	Sales ManagersBachelor's degree	$163,520	$75,610 – $303,060	+10.3%
28	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,040	$47,420 – $93,880	+10.2%
29	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,160	$41,010 – $103,570	+9.8%
30	File ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,560	$33,200 – $60,240	+9.1%
31	Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,300	$38,260 – $79,920	+8.8%
32	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$114,940	$56,020 – $268,030	+8.7%
33	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$130,240	$73,380 – $221,050	+8.0%
34	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,220	$48,940 – $75,950	+7.6%
35	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$84,140	$45,460 – $134,530	+7.0%
36	Social and Community Service ManagersBachelor's degree	$85,850	$59,200 – $128,470	+6.8%
37	Bill and Account CollectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,200	$33,910 – $77,910	+6.7%
38	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$87,820	$67,420 – $108,150	+6.7%
39	Farm and Home Management EducatorsMaster's degree	$64,280	$51,100 – $83,920	+6.7%
40	Community and Social Service Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$60,410	$43,360 – $75,690	+6.5%
41	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$54,340	$37,130 – $93,950	+6.3%
42	Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,020	$35,000 – $53,650	+6.3%
43	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$110,800	$65,970 – $170,750	+6.2%
44	Veterinary Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$50,240	$37,120 – $59,820	+6.0%
45	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,940	$40,460 – $71,800	+5.9%
46	Social Science Research AssistantsBachelor's degree	$65,330	$50,550 – $86,150	+5.4%
47	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$63,640	$44,280 – $82,150	+5.4%
48	Child, Family, and School Social WorkersBachelor's degree	$62,700	$44,700 – $76,950	+5.3%
49	Billing and Posting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,070	$35,590 – $66,600	+5.3%
50	TellersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,320	$38,150 – $50,450	+5.3%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Raleigh-Cary, NC

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