North Carolina Median
$84,350
per year
Hourly Rate
$40.55
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-14% vs US median
US median $97,550
State Rank
#33 of 51
111,120 employed here
How much does a Registered Nurse make in North Carolina?
Registered Nurses in North Carolina take home a median of $84,350 annually — roughly $40.55 an hour — which runs 14% below the national median of $97,550.
Within North Carolina, entry-level pay starts around $67,660 while the top 10% make $110,220 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $78,770 and $102,040 a year.
Registered Nurse salary range in North Carolina
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $67,660 | $32.53 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $78,770 | $37.87 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $84,350 | $40.55 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $102,040 | $49.06 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $110,220 | $52.99 |
|
How North Carolina compares
North Carolina ranks 33rd out of 51 states and territories for Registered Nurse pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Registered Nurse salary in other states
California $140,270Hawaii $136,320Oregon $129,010Washington $124,200Alaska $109,480New York $109,440New Jersey $106,500Massachusetts $104,550Nevada $103,670Connecticut $102,740District of Columbia $102,540Minnesota $101,510Rhode Island $100,640Colorado $100,260Maryland $99,790New Hampshire $99,700Delaware $99,520Arizona $99,500Vermont $97,460Pennsylvania $96,430Illinois $95,990Texas $95,970Wisconsin $95,530New Mexico $94,340Michigan $94,300Virginia $93,600Georgia $93,550Idaho $92,460Maine $86,990Montana $85,280Nebraska $84,730Utah $84,600Florida $84,190Wyoming $83,760Indiana $83,500Oklahoma $82,920Ohio $82,510South Carolina $82,360Missouri $81,780Tennessee $81,500Kentucky $81,040North Dakota $80,730Louisiana $80,230West Virginia $80,130Kansas $79,320Arkansas $78,940Iowa $78,630South Dakota $78,060Mississippi $77,090Alabama $77,080
Working as a Registered Nurse in North Carolina
Nationally, about 3,380,000 people work as Registered Nurses in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare North Carolina pay ($84,350) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Registered Nurse make in North Carolina?
The median Registered Nurse salary in North Carolina is $84,350 per year, or about $40.55 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $67,660 at the entry level to $110,220 for the top 10% of earners.
How does North Carolina pay compare to the national average?
North Carolina pays Registered Nurses about 14% less than the national median of $97,550. North Carolina ranks 33rd out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is North Carolina a good state for Registered Nurses?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $84,350 a year. About 111,120 Registered Nurses are employed in North Carolina. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in North Carolina?
The highest-paying occupations in North Carolina include Surgeon, All Other ($398,410), Dermatologist ($367,350), Emergency Medicine Physician ($339,350), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Registered Nurse salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.