Want to know what the highest paying jobs are in North Carolina? We pulled the latest data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics for the highest paying jobs in North Carolina.
The salary information below are mean annual salaries.
The information presented in this article is based on data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (State Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics).

What is the Highest Paying Job in North Carolina?
Surgeon is the highest paying job in North Carolina earning a mean annual salary of $429,010.

Top 10 Highest Paying Jobs in North Carolina
The highest paying jobs in North Carolina are jobs in the medical field. Doctors are the highest paying jobs in North Carolina with almost all the top 10 spots of the highest paying jobs in North Carolina going to doctors.

The only non-medical field job in the 10 highest paying jobs in North Carolina are CEOs earning $322,120.
The best paying doctors in North Carolina are surgeons, cardiologist, oral surgeons, dermatologists, OBGYN and anesthesiologists – earning more than $300,000 a year!
Below is a list of the top 10 highest-paying jobs in North Carolina.
Surgeons, All Other | $429,010 |
Cardiologists | $412,460 |
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons | $406,970 |
Dermatologists | $361,800 |
Chief Executives | $322,120 |
Obstetricians and Gynecologists | $307,760 |
Anesthesiologists | $305,900 |
General Internal Medicine Physicians | $252,580 |
Family Medicine Physicians | $224,590 |
Pediatricians, General | $219,400 |
Top 30 Highest Paying Jobs in North Carolina
Below are the top 30 highest-paying jobs in North Carolina.
As you can see, more than half of the highest-paying jobs in North Carolina are in the medical field.

Many of the highest paying jobs in North Carolina require an advanced Medical or Law degree.
Surgeons, All Other | $429,010 |
Cardiologists | $412,460 |
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons | $406,970 |
Dermatologists | $361,800 |
Chief Executives | $322,120 |
Obstetricians and Gynecologists | $307,760 |
Anesthesiologists | $305,900 |
General Internal Medicine Physicians | $252,580 |
Family Medicine Physicians | $224,590 |
Pediatricians, General | $219,400 |
Physicians, All Other | $216,240 |
Nurse Anesthetists | $214,740 |
Dentists, General | $202,550 |
Natural Sciences Managers | $179,310 |
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $169,340 |
Podiatrists | $166,760 |
Financial Managers | $161,710 |
Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | $160,180 |
Advertising and Promotions Managers | $159,860 |
Computer and Information Systems Managers | $158,140 |
Optometrists | $156,110 |
Physicists | $149,790 |
Architectural and Engineering Managers | $148,540 |
Actuaries | $146,960 |
Lawyers | $146,890 |
Marketing Managers | $144,790 |
Compensation and Benefits Managers | $142,640 |
Law Teachers, Postsecondary | $142,570 |
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $141,550 |
Sales Managers | $136,750 |
What is the Highest Paying Job in North Carolina with Bachelor’s Degree?
The highest paying job in North Carolina with a Bachelor’s Degree is a job as a CEO making an annual mean salary of $322,120.

The second highest paying in North Carolina is a job as a Natural Sciences Manager making $179,310 a year. The entry-level requirement for a Natural Sciences Manager is a bachelor’s degree.
20 Highest Paying Jobs in North Carolina with Bachelor’s Degree
The highest paying jobs in North Carolina where the entry-level requirement is a Bachelor’s Degree are CEOs, Natural Sciences Managers, Pilots, Financial Managers, Advertising and Promotions Manager and Computer and Information Systems Managers.

These high paying jobs don’t require a medical degree or law degree, the entry level requirement is a bachelor’s degree.
Below is a list of the top 20 highest paying jobs in North Carolina with a Bachelor’s Degree.
Chief Executives | $322,120 |
Natural Sciences Managers | $179,310 |
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $169,340 |
Financial Managers | $161,710 |
Advertising and Promotions Managers | $159,860 |
Computer and Information Systems Managers | $158,140 |
Architectural and Engineering Managers | $148,540 |
Actuaries | $146,960 |
Lawyers | $146,890 |
Marketing Managers | $144,790 |
Compensation and Benefits Managers | $142,640 |
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $141,550 |
Sales Managers | $136,750 |
Public Relations Managers | $134,370 |
Human Resources Managers | $134,090 |
Purchasing Managers | $133,060 |
Personal Financial Advisors | $132,680 |
Managers, All Other | $129,240 |
Management Occupations | $126,640 |
Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes | $126,090 |
What Jobs in North Carolina Pay Over $100,000 a Year?
Below you will find jobs in North Carolina that pay over $100,000 a year.
Surgeons, All Other | $429,010 |
Cardiologists | $412,460 |
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons | $406,970 |
Dermatologists | $361,800 |
Chief Executives | $322,120 |
Obstetricians and Gynecologists | $307,760 |
Anesthesiologists | $305,900 |
General Internal Medicine Physicians | $252,580 |
Family Medicine Physicians | $224,590 |
Pediatricians, General | $219,400 |
Physicians, All Other | $216,240 |
Nurse Anesthetists | $214,740 |
Dentists, General | $202,550 |
Natural Sciences Managers | $179,310 |
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $169,340 |
Podiatrists | $166,760 |
Financial Managers | $161,710 |
Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | $160,180 |
Advertising and Promotions Managers | $159,860 |
Computer and Information Systems Managers | $158,140 |
Optometrists | $156,110 |
Physicists | $149,790 |
Architectural and Engineering Managers | $148,540 |
Actuaries | $146,960 |
Lawyers | $146,890 |
Marketing Managers | $144,790 |
Compensation and Benefits Managers | $142,640 |
Law Teachers, Postsecondary | $142,570 |
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $141,550 |
Sales Managers | $136,750 |
Public Relations Managers | $134,370 |
Human Resources Managers | $134,090 |
Purchasing Managers | $133,060 |
Personal Financial Advisors | $132,680 |
Managers, All Other | $129,240 |
Pharmacists | $128,330 |
Management Occupations | $126,640 |
Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes | $126,090 |
Software Developers | $125,630 |
Computer Hardware Engineers | $125,630 |
Medical and Health Services Managers | $125,220 |
General and Operations Managers | $124,490 |
Database Architects | $124,060 |
Aerospace Engineers | $123,610 |
Information Security Analysts | $122,580 |
Computer Network Architects | $122,570 |
Training and Development Managers | $122,470 |
Economics Teachers, Postsecondary | $122,150 |
Data Scientists | $119,960 |
Physician Assistants | $119,830 |
Financial Risk Specialists | $119,330 |
Statisticians | $119,140 |
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products | $119,090 |
Sales Engineers | $117,640 |
Veterinarians | $116,930 |
Medical Dosimetrists | $116,130 |
Nuclear Power Reactor Operators | $115,840 |
Nurse Practitioners | $114,450 |
Nuclear Engineers | $114,270 |
Industrial Production Managers | $114,260 |
Computer and Information Research Scientists | $114,040 |
Nurse Midwives | $113,890 |
Commercial Pilots | $112,900 |
Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $111,790 |
Construction Managers | $111,450 |
Administrative Services Managers | $108,620 |
Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $107,920 |
First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | $107,520 |
Sociologists | $106,990 |
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $106,880 |
Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $106,450 |
Engineers, All Other | $106,160 |
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $105,750 |
Computer Programmers | $104,890 |
Computer and Mathematical Occupations | $104,530 |
Art Directors | $104,280 |
Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $104,260 |
Electrical Engineers | $104,240 |
Fundraising Managers | $103,260 |
Legal Occupations | $102,780 |
Management Analysts | $102,310 |
Database Administrators | $102,300 |
Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other | $101,310 |
Chemical Engineers | $101,050 |
Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $100,670 |
Radiation Therapists | $100,050 |
What is the Lowest Paying Job in North Carolina?
Passenger attendant is the lowest paying job in North Carolina. Passenger attendants earn $22,690 a year (mean annual salary) or $11 an hour (mean hourly rate)
The lowest paying job in North Carolina earns a mere 5.2% of the highest paying job in North Carolina!
10 Lowest Paying Jobs in North Carolina
Below is a list of the 10 lowest paying jobs in North Carolina.
Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners | $26,820 |
Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $26,640 |
Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians | $26,550 |
Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $26,400 |
Dishwashers | $26,130 |
Helpers–Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons | $26,060 |
Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $26,020 |
Baggage Porters and Bellhops | $25,720 |
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $25,710 |
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $25,450 |
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $25,440 |
Cashiers | $25,190 |
Cooks, Short Order | $25,000 |
Fast Food and Counter Workers | $24,960 |
Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers | $23,720 |
Amusement and Recreation Attendants | $23,510 |
Cooks, Fast Food | $23,490 |
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $23,070 |
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $22,930 |
Passenger Attendants | $22,690 |