North Carolina Salary Guide (2026)
Whether you're evaluating a job offer, negotiating a raise, or relocating to North Carolina, understanding what salaries look like in the NC job market is essential. Here's the latest SalaryLabs wage and tax context for pay in North Carolina.
Average Salaries in North Carolina by Occupation (2026)
| Job Title | Annual Salary | Hourly Rate | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | 108.000 | 51.92 | 9.000 |
| Registered Nurse | 68.000 | 32.69 | 5.667 |
| Teacher (Public) | 52.000 | 25.00 | 4.333 |
| Financial Analyst | 72.000 | 34.62 | 6.000 |
| Accountant | 62.000 | 29.81 | 5.167 |
Source note: SalaryLabs editorial state wage references informed by public BLS wage context. Figures are directional benchmarks for North Carolina, not a live official lookup.
How to use this page: treat it as a quick state snapshot, not a filing-grade or relocation-grade answer. For a real decision, pair this directional wage context with the main Salary Calculator, Take Home Pay, and US Salary Heatmap.
Best use case in North Carolina: use this page when the question is not just “what is my gross hourly rate?” but “how should I read a salary in this state before I go deeper?” The most useful signal here is the combination of Charlotte's higher local benchmark (70.000/year), 4.5% state income tax, and a cost-of-living index of 93. That mix tells you whether North Carolina looks stronger as a paycheck state, a purchasing-power state, or simply a neutral gross-pay reference before you run a fuller take-home or relocation check.
Cost of Living in North Carolina
North Carolina's cost of living index is 93 (national average = 100). North Carolina's cost of living is close to the national average, so a salary here is roughly equivalent in purchasing power to the same salary elsewhere.
North Carolina Tax Overview (2026)
When you receive your paycheck in North Carolina, the following deductions apply:
- Federal income tax: 10–37% depending on your income bracket (2026 IRS rates)
- North Carolina state income tax: flat 4.5% (dropping to 3.99% by 2027)
- Social Security: 6.2% on income up to $184,500
- Medicare: 1.45% on all income (additional 0.9% above $200K)
Minimum Wage in North Carolina (2026)
The minimum wage in North Carolina is $7.25 per hour as of 2026. At 40 hours per week for 52 weeks, that equals $15.080/year gross. This matches the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.