Highest paying jobs in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
The best paying occupations in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area, ranked by median annual wage. Metro wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure that too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.
Cost of living: prices here run 2.7% below the national average (2024).
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025
| # | Occupation | MedianCharlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orthopedic Surgeons, Except PediatricDoctoral or professional degree | $572,910 | $69,990 – $629,080 | 140 |
| 2 | CardiologistsDoctoral or professional degree | $528,750 | $141,460 – $620,200 | 150 |
| 3 | Obstetricians and GynecologistsDoctoral or professional degree | $353,740 | $116,840 – $637,800 | 160 |
| 4 | NeurologistsDoctoral or professional degree | $337,600 | $130,510 – $379,310 | 90 |
| 5 | Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree | $329,030 | $114,100 – $599,990 | 740 |
| 6 | Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree | $327,040 | $74,580 – $452,850 | 2,400 |
| 7 | General Internal Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree | $289,780 | $138,430 – $462,350 | 390 |
| 8 | Nurse AnesthetistsMaster's degree | $277,550 | $222,510 – $334,180 | 910 |
| 9 | DermatologistsDoctoral or professional degree | $276,170 | $186,700 – $364,180 | 180 |
| 10 | Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree | $269,270 | $107,990 – $363,240 | 280 |
| 11 | PodiatristsDoctoral or professional degree | $254,570 | $104,920 – $314,130 | — |
| 12 | Pediatricians, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree | $217,670 | $98,790 – $329,020 | 170 |
| 13 | Emergency Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree | $195,770 | $129,770 – $341,290 | 110 |
| 14 | Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree | $189,220 | $103,490 – $312,000 | 1,140 |
| 15 | Computer and Information Systems ManagersBachelor's degree | $176,840 | $119,750 – $305,560 | 8,120 |
| 16 | Natural Sciences ManagersBachelor's degree | $173,160 | $81,430 – $318,830 | 460 |
| 17 | Financial ManagersBachelor's degree | $172,760 | $111,000 – $329,110 | 9,290 |
| 18 | Architectural and Engineering ManagersBachelor's degree | $169,960 | $125,020 – $256,460 | 1,830 |
| 19 | PsychiatristsDoctoral or professional degree | $169,850 | $90,510 – $339,740 | 100 |
| 20 | Compensation and Benefits ManagersBachelor's degree | $167,450 | $101,600 – $267,240 | 300 |
| 21 | Marketing ManagersBachelor's degree | $166,200 | $94,240 – $268,360 | 3,830 |
| 22 | Sales ManagersBachelor's degree | $162,000 | $76,540 – $311,420 | 5,930 |
| 23 | Human Resources ManagersBachelor's degree | $158,930 | $99,310 – $292,290 | 2,310 |
| 24 | Medical DosimetristsBachelor's degree | $157,800 | $125,310 – $202,380 | 40 |
| 25 | OptometristsDoctoral or professional degree | $157,210 | $39,280 – $209,790 | 260 |
| 26 | LawyersDoctoral or professional degree | $157,180 | $61,830 – $371,170 | 5,380 |
| 27 | Managers, All OtherBachelor's degree | $156,020 | $84,080 – $272,240 | 6,640 |
| 28 | Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersBachelor's degree | $151,540 | $97,700 – $206,700 | 2,090 |
| 29 | PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree | $150,580 | $91,770 – $173,930 | 2,530 |
| 30 | Psychologists, All OtherMaster's degree | $146,850 | $53,620 – $173,530 | 90 |
| 31 | Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award | $144,750 | $67,070 – $265,710 | 430 |
| 32 | Purchasing ManagersBachelor's degree | $144,270 | $98,160 – $228,510 | 870 |
| 33 | Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing OfficersDoctoral or professional degree | $140,050 | $58,640 – $207,480 | 40 |
| 34 | Database ArchitectsBachelor's degree | $138,870 | $88,510 – $180,650 | 1,560 |
| 35 | Software DevelopersBachelor's degree | $135,920 | $93,690 – $172,360 | 20,820 |
| 36 | Public Relations ManagersBachelor's degree | $134,990 | $82,220 – $237,640 | 430 |
| 37 | Computer Network ArchitectsBachelor's degree | $134,410 | $95,280 – $173,800 | 2,350 |
| 38 | Financial Risk SpecialistsBachelor's degree | $133,530 | $82,840 – $214,540 | 1,880 |
| 39 | Physician AssistantsMaster's degree | $133,140 | $99,610 – $169,220 | 1,680 |
| 40 | Aerospace EngineersBachelor's degree | $132,830 | $80,240 – $212,620 | 100 |
| 41 | Data ScientistsBachelor's degree | $132,460 | $70,790 – $171,200 | 4,420 |
| 42 | Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $132,030 | $72,310 – $132,040 | 120 |
| 43 | Nuclear EngineersBachelor's degree | $131,850 | $95,880 – $164,100 | 240 |
| 44 | Information Security AnalystsBachelor's degree | $131,440 | $81,430 – $192,300 | 2,640 |
| 45 | Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree | $130,310 | $107,350 – $170,490 | 1,970 |
| 46 | VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree | $129,080 | $78,940 – $214,370 | 750 |
| 47 | ActuariesBachelor's degree | $128,730 | $72,880 – $212,650 | 280 |
| 48 | Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree | $128,640 | $81,030 – $213,220 | 2,540 |
| 49 | Nurse MidwivesMaster's degree | $128,110 | $101,880 – $175,090 | 60 |
| 50 | Fundraising ManagersBachelor's degree | $127,440 | $76,590 – $220,020 | 220 |