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Registered Nurses Salary in North Carolina

What Registered Nurses earn in North Carolina, labor market by labor market, and what is left after taxes and living costs in 19 counties.

Average in NC
$85,814
local median wages, weighted
Rank among states
30 of 45
published states
Workers in state
112,530
BLS employment estimate
Wage areas
4
19 counties

Pay by labor market in North Carolina

Registered Nurses pay by wage area in North Carolina
Wage areaMedian wageTake-home payMargin per yearLargest county
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC$90,620$68,993$42,267Mecklenburg County, NC
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC$89,450$68,219$43,318Currituck County, NC
Winston-Salem, NC$86,120$66,018$44,285Forsyth County, NC
Raleigh-Cary, NC$84,830$65,166$39,496Wake County, NC

Counties ranked by what is left after the basics

Registered Nurses in North Carolina counties, by yearly margin
#CountyMedian wageTake-home payMargin per year
1Anson County, NC$90,620$68,993$51,207
2Rowan County, NC$90,620$68,993$49,803
3Lincoln County, NC$90,620$68,993$49,407
4Davidson County, NC$86,120$66,018$46,985
5Camden County, NC$89,450$68,219$46,534
6Iredell County, NC$90,620$68,993$46,191
7Forsyth County, NC$86,120$66,018$44,285
8Stokes County, NC$86,120$66,018$44,285
9Davie County, NC$86,120$66,018$44,285
10Yadkin County, NC$86,120$66,018$44,285
11Currituck County, NC$89,450$68,219$43,318
12Gates County, NC$89,450$68,219$43,306
13Mecklenburg County, NC$90,620$68,993$42,267
14Union County, NC$90,620$68,993$42,267
15Cabarrus County, NC$90,620$68,993$42,267
16Gaston County, NC$90,620$68,993$42,267
17Wake County, NC$84,830$65,166$39,496
18Johnston County, NC$84,830$65,166$39,496
19Franklin County, NC$84,830$65,166$39,496

Registered Nurses pay in North Carolina

The employment-weighted average of local median wages for Registered Nurses in North Carolina is $85,814, based on 112,530 workers. Among the 45 states with published data, that ranks number 30. The BLS national median for the occupation is $97,550, so North Carolina averages 12.0% below it.

Inside North Carolina, pay depends on the labor market. The highest local median is $90,620 in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC area and the lowest is $84,830 in Raleigh-Cary, NC, a difference of $5,790 across 4 wage areas.

Cost of living for Registered Nurses in North Carolina

We compare 19 North Carolina counties after federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics: a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline. Anson County, NC leaves the largest yearly margin, $51,207. Franklin County, NC leaves the smallest, $39,496. The median wage covers all four basics in 19 of the 19 counties.

Registered Nurses in other states

The states with the highest average local median wages for Registered Nurses are California ($151,152), Oregon ($126,881), Washington ($123,996) and New Jersey ($113,690).

Frequently asked questions: Registered Nurses in North Carolina

How much do Registered Nurses earn in North Carolina?

The employment-weighted average of local median wages is $85,814, from $84,830 to $90,620 depending on the labor market.

Which North Carolina county is best for Registered Nurses?

Anson County, NC leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes and the four basics ($51,207). Rowan County, NC follows at $49,803.