Career Atlas USA

Careers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC

Part of North Carolina.

Durham-Chapel Hill, NC’s regional price level is below the national average (index 97.572, where 100 = U.S. average, 2024 BEA data).

Unemployment rate: 3.2% · 310,990 people employed (2026-06, BLS LAUS, not seasonally adjusted).

Highest-Paying Careers

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  1. 1Chief Executives$381,330
  2. 2Physicians, Pathologists$272,300
  3. 3Family Medicine Physicians$220,840
  4. 4Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons$219,990
  5. 5General Internal Medicine Physicians$214,620

Largest Occupations

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  1. 1Software Developers9,790 employed
  2. 2Retail Salespersons5,850 employed
  3. 3Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants5,820 employed
  4. 4Fast Food and Counter Workers5,350 employed
  5. 5Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand5,250 employed

Highest Concentration

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  1. 1Life Scientists, All Other28.02× national avg
  2. 2Biological Scientists, All Other11.28× national avg
  3. 3Microbiologists9.58× national avg
  4. 4Statisticians9.34× national avg
  5. 5Natural Sciences Managers8.52× national avg

Best Purchasing Power

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cost-of-living adjusted

  1. 1Chief Executives$390,819
  2. 2Physicians, Pathologists$279,076
  3. 3Family Medicine Physicians$226,335
  4. 4Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons$225,464
  5. 5General Internal Medicine Physicians$219,961

Sources

Wage and employment data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities. Unemployment rate: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS). Opportunity Score isn’t available at the metro level yet — see North Carolina state page.