Highest paying jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
The best paying occupations in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC 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 2.4% below the national average (2024).
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025
| # | Occupation | MedianDurham-Chapel Hill, NC | 10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree | $381,330 | $113,920 – $765,300 | 140 |
| 2 | Physicians, PathologistsDoctoral or professional degree | $272,300 | $200,960 – $425,220 | 30 |
| 3 | Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree | $220,840 | $119,190 – $224,690 | — |
| 4 | Oral and Maxillofacial SurgeonsDoctoral or professional degree | $219,990 | $219,990 – $395,990 | — |
| 5 | General Internal Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree | $214,620 | $132,090 – $335,380 | 40 |
| 6 | Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree | $208,490 | $119,990 – $333,410 | 200 |
| 7 | OrthodontistsDoctoral or professional degree | $199,990 | $199,990 – $361,050 | — |
| 8 | Sales ManagersBachelor's degree | $190,370 | $82,880 – $337,780 | 1,150 |
| 9 | Natural Sciences ManagersBachelor's degree | $183,540 | $117,370 – $317,740 | 2,050 |
| 10 | Computer and Information Systems ManagersBachelor's degree | $176,190 | $124,110 – $320,010 | 4,170 |
| 11 | Sales EngineersBachelor's degree | $175,310 | $88,710 – $290,910 | 330 |
| 12 | Marketing ManagersBachelor's degree | $175,160 | $106,960 – $288,350 | 1,230 |
| 13 | Computer Hardware EngineersBachelor's degree | $175,110 | $99,900 – $294,880 | 430 |
| 14 | Architectural and Engineering ManagersBachelor's degree | $172,480 | $129,900 – $267,480 | 860 |
| 15 | PsychiatristsDoctoral or professional degree | $170,600 | $103,960 – $346,750 | 40 |
| 16 | OptometristsDoctoral or professional degree | $166,880 | $100,870 – $217,510 | 40 |
| 17 | Financial ManagersBachelor's degree | $165,470 | $101,690 – $320,540 | 1,710 |
| 18 | Human Resources ManagersBachelor's degree | $160,580 | $103,300 – $298,410 | 630 |
| 19 | Purchasing ManagersBachelor's degree | $160,370 | $108,340 – $229,660 | 250 |
| 20 | Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree | $155,680 | $94,580 – $206,310 | 290 |
| 21 | EconomistsMaster's degree | $152,130 | $81,700 – $224,270 | 120 |
| 22 | Managers, All OtherBachelor's degree | $152,090 | $83,520 – $297,240 | 2,340 |
| 23 | Computer Network ArchitectsBachelor's degree | $144,990 | $104,310 – $184,780 | 970 |
| 24 | Database ArchitectsBachelor's degree | $141,770 | $87,070 – $172,430 | 560 |
| 25 | PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree | $141,360 | $102,870 – $165,740 | 1,150 |
| 26 | Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree | $137,950 | $86,710 – $216,320 | 620 |
| 27 | Public Relations ManagersBachelor's degree | $137,870 | $80,430 – $239,580 | 220 |
| 28 | Computer and Information Research ScientistsMaster's degree | $136,990 | $77,630 – $231,160 | 90 |
| 29 | Software DevelopersBachelor's degree | $135,620 | $100,670 – $209,410 | 9,790 |
| 30 | Training and Development ManagersBachelor's degree | $134,830 | $87,260 – $216,050 | 210 |
| 31 | Medical and Health Services ManagersBachelor's degree | $133,970 | $83,590 – $276,280 | 1,740 |
| 32 | Web and Digital Interface DesignersBachelor's degree | $133,340 | $62,580 – $172,420 | 510 |
| 33 | LawyersDoctoral or professional degree | $132,790 | $61,390 – $333,510 | 1,220 |
| 34 | Physician AssistantsMaster's degree | $132,670 | $107,420 – $168,950 | 740 |
| 35 | VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree | $132,500 | $52,170 – $217,080 | 210 |
| 36 | Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree | $132,300 | $108,200 – $167,060 | 1,450 |
| 37 | Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree | $131,120 | $62,990 – $206,290 | 1,920 |
| 38 | Information Security AnalystsBachelor's degree | $129,670 | $83,900 – $170,990 | 860 |
| 39 | Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree | $129,030 | $78,280 – $213,300 | 1,020 |
| 40 | Fundraising ManagersBachelor's degree | $128,810 | $82,520 – $224,390 | 220 |
| 41 | Physical Scientists, All OtherBachelor's degree | $128,380 | $82,350 – $183,540 | 370 |
| 42 | Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree | $127,710 | $81,550 – $174,180 | 580 |
| 43 | SociologistsMaster's degree | $126,760 | $68,610 – $213,140 | — |
| 44 | Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree | $126,300 | $63,060 – $174,170 | 2,090 |
| 45 | Management AnalystsBachelor's degree | $126,110 | $75,430 – $170,810 | 1,840 |
| 46 | Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree | $125,510 | $66,420 – $329,800 | — |
| 47 | Real Estate BrokersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $124,210 | $66,470 – $200,900 | — |
| 48 | Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All OtherMaster's degree | $123,280 | $68,060 – $188,640 | 290 |
| 49 | Materials ScientistsBachelor's degree | $123,070 | $64,670 – $173,020 | 110 |
| 50 | Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree | $122,980 | $65,280 – $166,820 | 950 |