Highest paying jobs in Winston-Salem, NC
The best paying occupations in the Winston-Salem, 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 8.0% below the national average (2024).
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025
| # | Occupation | MedianWinston-Salem, NC | 10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emergency Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree | $319,170 | $171,100 – $319,170 | — |
| 2 | RadiologistsDoctoral or professional degree | $317,250 | $77,810 – $353,650 | — |
| 3 | Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree | $309,990 | $171,780 – $322,310 | — |
| 4 | General Internal Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree | $293,840 | $129,370 – $432,370 | 80 |
| 5 | Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree | $273,710 | $105,990 – $601,360 | 80 |
| 6 | Ophthalmologists, Except PediatricDoctoral or professional degree | $258,750 | $215,640 – $345,260 | — |
| 7 | Nurse AnesthetistsMaster's degree | $216,140 | $72,220 – $301,220 | 440 |
| 8 | Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree | $168,700 | $56,060 – $318,200 | 230 |
| 9 | OptometristsDoctoral or professional degree | $162,540 | $96,100 – $201,130 | 70 |
| 10 | Computer and Information Systems ManagersBachelor's degree | $160,900 | $99,340 – $227,130 | 700 |
| 11 | Marketing ManagersBachelor's degree | $160,570 | $99,320 – $236,160 | 440 |
| 12 | Fundraising ManagersBachelor's degree | $158,460 | $79,720 – $212,070 | 70 |
| 13 | Architectural and Engineering ManagersBachelor's degree | $155,200 | $106,250 – $226,230 | 200 |
| 14 | Financial ManagersBachelor's degree | $155,030 | $94,520 – $301,980 | 980 |
| 15 | Natural Sciences ManagersBachelor's degree | $148,710 | $97,590 – $245,310 | 220 |
| 16 | Public Relations ManagersBachelor's degree | $140,680 | $84,160 – $222,780 | 100 |
| 17 | Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award | $137,180 | $60,020 – $238,530 | 40 |
| 18 | Human Resources ManagersBachelor's degree | $137,110 | $88,000 – $224,390 | 320 |
| 19 | PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree | $135,710 | $65,100 – $167,280 | 1,010 |
| 20 | Sales ManagersBachelor's degree | $132,550 | $65,670 – $251,940 | 690 |
| 21 | Financial Risk SpecialistsBachelor's degree | $131,630 | $62,230 – $166,570 | 180 |
| 22 | Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree | $130,840 | $105,120 – $161,520 | 750 |
| 23 | Physician AssistantsMaster's degree | $130,730 | $104,580 – $169,210 | 730 |
| 24 | Information Security AnalystsBachelor's degree | $129,980 | $66,440 – $172,770 | 280 |
| 25 | Compensation and Benefits ManagersBachelor's degree | $129,580 | $85,180 – $220,250 | 40 |
| 26 | Managers, All OtherBachelor's degree | $129,160 | $68,500 – $217,780 | 740 |
| 27 | Purchasing ManagersBachelor's degree | $128,990 | $76,650 – $202,740 | 100 |
| 28 | VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree | $128,530 | $75,850 – $208,220 | 150 |
| 29 | LawyersDoctoral or professional degree | $126,250 | $45,010 – $317,580 | 830 |
| 30 | Database ArchitectsBachelor's degree | $125,530 | $79,630 – $161,300 | 130 |
| 31 | Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree | $124,880 | $73,830 – $201,990 | 660 |
| 32 | Pediatricians, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree | $124,200 | $43,460 – $199,620 | — |
| 33 | Software DevelopersBachelor's degree | $124,130 | $78,700 – $169,360 | 1,050 |
| 34 | Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing OfficersDoctoral or professional degree | $122,930 | $112,400 – $133,470 | 40 |
| 35 | Computer Network ArchitectsBachelor's degree | $119,870 | $79,560 – $165,200 | 250 |
| 36 | Medical and Health Services ManagersBachelor's degree | $118,440 | $74,610 – $218,700 | 920 |
| 37 | Training and Development ManagersBachelor's degree | $114,650 | $78,160 – $215,280 | 80 |
| 38 | Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree | $113,840 | $62,800 – $150,190 | 40 |
| 39 | Facilities ManagersBachelor's degree | $109,940 | $63,660 – $172,130 | 240 |
| 40 | Sales EngineersBachelor's degree | $109,760 | $72,900 – $206,500 | 60 |
| 41 | Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree | $108,510 | $65,670 – $148,080 | 70 |
| 42 | Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $106,220 | $63,980 – $192,300 | 320 |
| 43 | Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree | $103,770 | $62,910 – $313,460 | — |
| 44 | Construction ManagersBachelor's degree | $103,750 | $65,330 – $181,260 | 710 |
| 45 | Administrative Services ManagersBachelor's degree | $102,990 | $68,480 – $169,520 | 390 |
| 46 | Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and RelayPostsecondary nondegree award | $102,310 | $72,440 – $106,340 | 50 |
| 47 | Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree | $101,770 | $63,680 – $224,720 | 360 |
| 48 | Data ScientistsBachelor's degree | $101,570 | $51,880 – $172,200 | 300 |
| 49 | Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree | $101,320 | $71,330 – $136,450 | 770 |
| 50 | Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree | $101,270 | $78,020 – $124,670 | 510 |