Highest paying jobs in Raleigh-Cary, NC
The best paying occupations in the Raleigh-Cary, 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 1.8% below the national average (2024).
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025
| # | Occupation | MedianRaleigh-Cary, NC | 10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree | $354,130 | $173,530 – $361,270 | 1,190 |
| 2 | General Internal Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree | $291,060 | $168,840 – $348,230 | 440 |
| 3 | Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree | $286,050 | $114,160 – $664,790 | 360 |
| 4 | Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree | $218,830 | $197,210 – $283,640 | — |
| 5 | Pediatricians, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree | $214,680 | $100,250 – $321,330 | 220 |
| 6 | Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree | $207,380 | $132,880 – $378,960 | 1,000 |
| 7 | PodiatristsDoctoral or professional degree | $185,800 | $104,320 – $382,360 | 60 |
| 8 | Computer and Information Systems ManagersBachelor's degree | $173,960 | $106,810 – $283,510 | 6,010 |
| 9 | Natural Sciences ManagersBachelor's degree | $173,510 | $103,090 – $300,550 | 1,640 |
| 10 | Architectural and Engineering ManagersBachelor's degree | $169,780 | $127,890 – $256,090 | 1,850 |
| 11 | PsychiatristsDoctoral or professional degree | $168,880 | $122,950 – $285,680 | 130 |
| 12 | Marketing ManagersBachelor's degree | $167,640 | $102,970 – $277,320 | 2,390 |
| 13 | Sales ManagersBachelor's degree | $163,520 | $75,610 – $303,060 | 3,280 |
| 14 | OptometristsDoctoral or professional degree | $163,290 | $100,240 – $213,860 | 240 |
| 15 | Financial ManagersBachelor's degree | $163,130 | $100,920 – $309,290 | 3,690 |
| 16 | Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree | $162,800 | $92,840 – $172,300 | 510 |
| 17 | Nurse AnesthetistsMaster's degree | $155,250 | $72,600 – $319,050 | — |
| 18 | Psychologists, All OtherMaster's degree | $152,980 | $94,800 – $195,730 | 30 |
| 19 | StatisticiansMaster's degree | $152,880 | $75,420 – $210,350 | 210 |
| 20 | Managers, All OtherBachelor's degree | $147,370 | $79,940 – $244,990 | 4,320 |
| 21 | Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All OtherMaster's degree | $147,370 | $95,220 – $382,770 | 110 |
| 22 | Human Resources ManagersBachelor's degree | $144,190 | $93,220 – $264,980 | 1,080 |
| 23 | Information Security AnalystsBachelor's degree | $143,640 | $78,870 – $168,050 | 2,510 |
| 24 | ActuariesBachelor's degree | $142,180 | $72,420 – $193,830 | 120 |
| 25 | Purchasing ManagersBachelor's degree | $139,050 | $97,590 – $225,170 | 500 |
| 26 | Economics Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree | $137,420 | $108,640 – $222,620 | 70 |
| 27 | Engineering Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree | $137,290 | $83,570 – $173,080 | 510 |
| 28 | PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree | $133,120 | $101,720 – $165,060 | 1,730 |
| 29 | Software DevelopersBachelor's degree | $132,770 | $80,080 – $185,110 | 12,580 |
| 30 | Database ArchitectsBachelor's degree | $132,740 | $70,200 – $198,320 | 710 |
| 31 | Nurse MidwivesMaster's degree | $132,070 | $115,380 – $155,340 | 30 |
| 32 | LawyersDoctoral or professional degree | $131,920 | $79,550 – $331,770 | 4,350 |
| 33 | Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing OfficersDoctoral or professional degree | $131,660 | $79,830 – $131,660 | 130 |
| 34 | Compensation and Benefits ManagersBachelor's degree | $131,510 | $63,150 – $205,310 | 150 |
| 35 | Public Relations ManagersBachelor's degree | $131,150 | $89,940 – $222,800 | 350 |
| 36 | Training and Development ManagersBachelor's degree | $130,660 | $78,210 – $213,870 | 460 |
| 37 | Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award | $130,600 | $63,860 – $264,180 | 140 |
| 38 | Computer Hardware EngineersBachelor's degree | $130,540 | $75,520 – $205,760 | 310 |
| 39 | VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree | $130,350 | $79,830 – $213,960 | 520 |
| 40 | Nuclear EngineersBachelor's degree | $130,300 | $97,250 – $166,200 | 70 |
| 41 | Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree | $130,240 | $73,380 – $221,050 | 1,500 |
| 42 | Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree | $130,120 | $78,110 – $215,140 | 1,010 |
| 43 | Fundraising ManagersBachelor's degree | $129,870 | $82,960 – $227,330 | 150 |
| 44 | Sales EngineersBachelor's degree | $129,520 | $79,570 – $259,510 | 570 |
| 45 | Computer and Information Research ScientistsMaster's degree | $128,370 | $128,370 – $182,000 | 280 |
| 46 | Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree | $128,150 | $103,200 – $170,520 | 1,510 |
| 47 | Physician AssistantsMaster's degree | $124,300 | $105,730 – $156,000 | 1,220 |
| 48 | Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree | $122,950 | $76,360 – $163,550 | 510 |
| 49 | Advertising and Promotions ManagersBachelor's degree | $121,730 | $97,580 – $129,380 | 80 |
| 50 | Data ScientistsBachelor's degree | $120,710 | $72,190 – $180,850 | 1,990 |