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Registered nurse salary in North Carolina

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$84,350median pay per year in North Carolina, or $40.56 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $67,660lowest 10% earn less
  2. $78,77025th percentile
  3. $84,350median
  4. $102,04075th percentile
  5. $110,220top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $97,550[3]

The median pay for registered nurses in North Carolina was $84,350 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $13,200 lower than the US median[6].

Jobs in NC
111,120[4]
Rank by median pay
33 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
−13.5%[6]

How much do registered nurses make in North Carolina?

The median wage for registered nurses in North Carolina was $84,350 a year, or $40.56 an hour[1]. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. The average was higher at $90,470 a year[7].

Across the US, the median was $97,550[3], so North Carolina sat $13,200 lower, or 13.5%[6]. The median for all jobs in the state was $47,970[8]. Registered nurses earned $36,380 more than that[9].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $67,660 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $110,220[2]. Among metro areas, Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia had the highest median, at $90,620[10]. Raleigh-Cary was at $84,830[11].

These figures count wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed and do not include bonuses or the cost of benefits like health insurance[12].

North Carolina vs US pay

Pay for registered nurses in North Carolina next to the national figures[1][3].

NCUS
Median per year$84,350[1]$97,550[3]
Median per hour$40.56[1]$46.90[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$67,660[2]$68,940[13]
Top 10% earn more than$110,220[2]$137,470[13]
Jobs111,120[4]3,379,720[3]

Pay by metro area in North Carolina

Metro areas in North Carolina with the most jobs for registered nurses, and the median pay in each[11]. A metro area that crosses state lines is counted as a whole.

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC[11]$90,62027,010
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC$89,45016,870
Raleigh-Cary, NC$84,83012,780
Winston-Salem, NC$86,12010,180
Greensboro-High Point, NC$82,8606,240
Wilmington, NC$80,9705,040
Asheville, NC$81,5904,680
Greenville, NC$81,6703,770

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for registered nurses in the states that border North Carolina, highest first[14].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Virginia[14]$93,60077,490
Georgia$93,550100,950
South Carolina$82,36049,750
Tennessee$81,50072,200

Median pay for registered nurses in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for registered nurses are projected to grow 5.6% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: bachelor's degree[16].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a registered nurse make in North Carolina?
The median was $84,350 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $90,470 a year[7].
How much does a registered nurse make an hour in North Carolina?
The median was $40.56 an hour[1]. The 25th percentile was $37.87 an hour and the 75th was $49.06[17].
Which city in North Carolina pays registered nurses the most?
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia had the highest median among 15 metro areas with a published figure, at $90,620 a year[10].
Is North Carolina a good state for registered nurses?
North Carolina had the 33rd highest median annual wage for registered nurses among the 50 states and DC[5]. Its median was $13,200 lower than the US median[6].
What do you need to become a registered nurse in North Carolina?
This is a US figure. Across the US, the typical entry education is a Bachelor's degree, with no work experience or on-the-job training needed[16].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Registered Nurses in North Carolina was $84,350 per year and $40.56 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Registered Nurses in North Carolina: 10th percentile $67,660, 25th percentile $78,770, 75th percentile $102,040, 90th percentile $110,220. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Registered Nurses in the US as a whole was $97,550 per year and $46.90 per hour, with about 3,379,720 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 111,120 people worked as Registered Nurses in North Carolina (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: North Carolina had the 33rd highest median annual wage for Registered Nurses out of the 50 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Registered Nurses in North Carolina ($84,350) was $13,200 (13.5%) lower than the US median ($97,550). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Registered Nurses in North Carolina was $90,470 per year and $43.50 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in North Carolina was $47,970. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Registered Nurses in North Carolina was $36,380 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($47,970). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 15 metro areas in or partly in North Carolina with a published median for Registered Nurses, Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC had the highest median annual wage, $90,620. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Registered Nurses in the US: 10th percentile $68,940, 25th percentile $80,330, 75th percentile $112,350, 90th percentile $137,470. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Registered Nurses in states that border North Carolina (highest first): Virginia $93,600; Georgia $93,550; South Carolina $82,360; Tennessee $81,500. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Registered Nurses is projected to grow 5.6% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 180,800 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Registered Nurses: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Registered Nurses in North Carolina: 10th percentile $32.53, 25th percentile $37.87, 75th percentile $49.06, 90th percentile $52.99. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only North Carolina. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.