Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Wilmington, NC

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

Cost of living: prices in Wilmington, NC run 3.6% below the national average (2024), so a Wilmington, NC salary is worth about 1.04× 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 Wilmington, NC

OccupationMedian, Wilmington, NC · vs. national

1Business Teachers, Postsecondary$187,380
Doctoral or professional degree
$73,560 – $220,610+89.1%
2Education Teachers, Postsecondary$106,070
Doctoral or professional degree
$49,660 – $131,890+40.8%
3Massage Therapists$81,390
Postsecondary nondegree award
$20,890 – $121,240+39.2%
4Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$110,620
Doctoral or professional degree
$72,450 – $132,180+37.8%
5Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$63,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,830 – $63,550+36.5%
6Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary$105,420
Doctoral or professional degree
$61,610 – $171,880+31.2%
7First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers$68,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,270 – $104,150+23.2%
8Emergency Medical Technicians$53,850
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,200 – $65,220+21.1%
9Optometrists$163,800
Doctoral or professional degree
$109,780 – $355,440+19.9%
10Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$78,740
Associate's degree
$64,650 – $90,500+19.1%
11Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$57,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,390 – $86,280+19.1%
12Loan Interviewers and Clerks$58,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,260 – $74,980+17.7%
13Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$118,980
Bachelor's degree
$48,000 – $195,980+13.4%
14Information Security Analysts$145,170
Bachelor's degree
$61,320 – $145,170+12.4%
15Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other$56,620
Bachelor's degree
$34,590 – $70,740+11.3%
16Physical Therapist Assistants$75,820
Associate's degree
$56,520 – $86,930+10.9%
17Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary$47,430
Bachelor's degree
$43,360 – $67,590+10.5%
18Bartenders$37,890
No formal educational credential
$15,990 – $76,630+10.3%
19Biological Technicians$62,960
Bachelor's degree
$49,190 – $81,440+9.5%
20Dentists, General$185,720
Doctoral or professional degree
$98,210 – $330,890+8.6%
21Library Technicians$48,280
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,940 – $63,160+8.3%
22Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents$67,450
Bachelor's degree
$42,630 – $112,570+8.1%
23Pharmacists$151,790
Doctoral or professional degree
$105,460 – $170,860+7.7%
24Loan Officers$82,340
Bachelor's degree
$45,010 – $172,080+7.4%
25Machinists$62,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,700 – $79,090+6.9%
26English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary$83,910
Doctoral or professional degree
$60,960 – $105,410+6.5%
27Dental Assistants$51,110
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,980 – $59,530+6.3%
28Tutors$46,030
Some college, no degree
$26,220 – $61,700+6.2%
29Child, Family, and School Social Workers$62,710
Bachelor's degree
$43,100 – $84,370+5.3%
30Social and Human Service Assistants$48,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,070 – $59,580+5.1%
31Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$51,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,440 – $74,780+5.0%
32Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$68,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,950 – $90,290+4.9%
33Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$47,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,100 – $61,860+4.1%
34Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$37,230
Postsecondary nondegree award
$24,320 – $60,450+4.0%
35Facilities Managers$110,760
Bachelor's degree
$62,930 – $199,990+3.8%
36Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay$106,950
Postsecondary nondegree award
$80,580 – $118,370+3.8%
37Technical Writers$93,750
Bachelor's degree
$59,980 – $149,560+3.7%
38Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling$82,460
Bachelor's degree
$54,270 – $157,370+3.7%
39Industrial Production Managers$130,690
Bachelor's degree
$75,210 – $208,050+3.7%
40Food Service Managers$71,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,800 – $97,730+3.3%
41Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$55,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,390 – $68,640+3.0%
42Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$50,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,100 – $58,080+2.9%
43Property Appraisers and Assessors$69,610
Bachelor's degree
$47,890 – $110,590+2.4%
44Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$109,430
Doctoral or professional degree
$60,520 – $133,160+2.0%
45Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$47,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,050 – $65,400+1.8%
46Library Assistants, Clerical$37,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,620 – $38,410+1.6%
47Chemical Technicians$61,200
Associate's degree
$42,340 – $81,930+1.3%
48Veterinarians$131,670
Doctoral or professional degree
$77,370 – $210,880+1.2%
49Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians$58,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,430 – $78,150+1.2%
50First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services$48,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,440 – $79,550+0.9%

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

#	Occupation	MedianWilmington, NC	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$187,380	$73,560 – $220,610	+89.1%
2	Education Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$106,070	$49,660 – $131,890	+40.8%
3	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$81,390	$20,890 – $121,240	+39.2%
4	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$110,620	$72,450 – $132,180	+37.8%
5	Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,550	$35,830 – $63,550	+36.5%
6	Psychology Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$105,420	$61,610 – $171,880	+31.2%
7	First-Line Supervisors of Security WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,940	$37,270 – $104,150	+23.2%
8	Emergency Medical TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$53,850	$36,200 – $65,220	+21.1%
9	OptometristsDoctoral or professional degree	$163,800	$109,780 – $355,440	+19.9%
10	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,740	$64,650 – $90,500	+19.1%
11	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,840	$36,390 – $86,280	+19.1%
12	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,860	$43,260 – $74,980	+17.7%
13	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree	$118,980	$48,000 – $195,980	+13.4%
14	Information Security AnalystsBachelor's degree	$145,170	$61,320 – $145,170	+12.4%
15	Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$56,620	$34,590 – $70,740	+11.3%
16	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$75,820	$56,520 – $86,930	+10.9%
17	Teaching Assistants, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$47,430	$43,360 – $67,590	+10.5%
18	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$37,890	$15,990 – $76,630	+10.3%
19	Biological TechniciansBachelor's degree	$62,960	$49,190 – $81,440	+9.5%
20	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$185,720	$98,210 – $330,890	+8.6%
21	Library TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,280	$38,940 – $63,160	+8.3%
22	Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue AgentsBachelor's degree	$67,450	$42,630 – $112,570	+8.1%
23	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$151,790	$105,460 – $170,860	+7.7%
24	Loan OfficersBachelor's degree	$82,340	$45,010 – $172,080	+7.4%
25	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,810	$38,700 – $79,090	+6.9%
26	English Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$83,910	$60,960 – $105,410	+6.5%
27	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$51,110	$37,980 – $59,530	+6.3%
28	TutorsSome college, no degree	$46,030	$26,220 – $61,700	+6.2%
29	Child, Family, and School Social WorkersBachelor's degree	$62,710	$43,100 – $84,370	+5.3%
30	Social and Human Service AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,280	$34,070 – $59,580	+5.1%
31	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,140	$40,440 – $74,780	+5.0%
32	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,700	$48,950 – $90,290	+4.9%
33	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,550	$35,100 – $61,860	+4.1%
34	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$37,230	$24,320 – $60,450	+4.0%
35	Facilities ManagersBachelor's degree	$110,760	$62,930 – $199,990	+3.8%
36	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and RelayPostsecondary nondegree award	$106,950	$80,580 – $118,370	+3.8%
37	Technical WritersBachelor's degree	$93,750	$59,980 – $149,560	+3.7%
38	Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except GamblingBachelor's degree	$82,460	$54,270 – $157,370	+3.7%
39	Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree	$130,690	$75,210 – $208,050	+3.7%
40	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,710	$49,800 – $97,730	+3.3%
41	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,340	$38,390 – $68,640	+3.0%
42	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,390	$38,100 – $58,080	+2.9%
43	Property Appraisers and AssessorsBachelor's degree	$69,610	$47,890 – $110,590	+2.4%
44	Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$109,430	$60,520 – $133,160	+2.0%
45	Cabinetmakers and Bench CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,520	$35,050 – $65,400	+1.8%
46	Library Assistants, ClericalHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,500	$35,620 – $38,410	+1.6%
47	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$61,200	$42,340 – $81,930	+1.3%
48	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$131,670	$77,370 – $210,880	+1.2%
49	Motorboat Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,240	$36,430 – $78,150	+1.2%
50	First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling ServicesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,990	$33,440 – $79,550	+0.9%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Wilmington, NC

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