Registered Nurses Pay Range in North Carolina
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$67,660
- 25th Percentile — Junior$78,770
- 50th Percentile — Median$84,350
- 75th Percentile — Senior$102,040
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$110,220
Half of Registered Nurses in North Carolina earn more than $84,350. The top 10% make $110,220 or more, while entry-level workers start around $67,660.
Registered Nurses in North Carolina: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- North Carolina ranks 33rd of 51 states for Registered Nurses pay, at $90,470 per year (10.8% below the U.S. average of $101,420).
- 111,120 people work as Registered Nurses in North Carolina — 3.3% of all U.S. Registered Nurses jobs.
- Location quotient 1.03: Registered Nurses jobs are more concentrated in North Carolina than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $67,660; the top 10% earn over $110,220.
- Hourly equivalent: $43.5 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is California at $150,280.
- Among healthcare jobs in North Carolina, Surgeons All Other pays the most ($377,270).
Registered Nurses Job Market in North Carolina
Key factors affecting compensation
North Carolina's key industries are Technology, Finance, Agriculture, and its job market is rated strong. Registered Nurses here earn $90,470 on average, placing the state 33rd nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.91 (U.S. = 1.00), a North Carolina salary of $90,470 is roughly equivalent to $99,418 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Maine ($91,700), Montana ($91,510), Utah ($90,950) are the closest alternatives for Registered Nurses weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Healthcare Jobs in North Carolina
Related career salary benchmarks
- Surgeons All Other $377,270/yr North Carolina +317.0% vs this role
- Dermatologists $360,910/yr North Carolina +298.9% vs this role
- Emergency Medicine Physicians $340,980/yr North Carolina +276.9% vs this role
- General Internal Medicine Physicians $283,840/yr North Carolina +213.7% vs this role
- Obstetricians and Gynecologists $249,890/yr North Carolina +176.2% vs this role
- Physicians All Other $247,750/yr North Carolina +173.8% vs this role
- Podiatrists $241,300/yr North Carolina +166.7% vs this role
- Anesthesiologists $239,200/yr North Carolina +164.4% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Registered Nurses salary in North Carolina?
The average Registered Nurses salary in North Carolina is $90,470 per year (median $84,350), which is 10.8% below the national average of $101,420.
How does North Carolina rank for Registered Nurses pay?
North Carolina ranks 33rd out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is California ($150,280/yr).
How much do entry-level Registered Nurses make in North Carolina?
The lowest-paid 10% of Registered Nurses in North Carolina earn about $67,660 per year and the 25th percentile is $78,770.
How much do Registered Nurses make per hour in North Carolina?
About $43.5 per hour, based on the $90,470 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Registered Nurses work in North Carolina?
BLS counts 111,120 Registered Nurses jobs in North Carolina (OEWS May 2025).
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