Career Atlas USA

Careers in North Carolina

North Carolina’s regional price level is below the national average (index 94.326, where 100 = U.S. average, 2024 BEA data).

Unemployment rate: 3.7% · Labor force participation: 57.6% · 5,007,249 people employed (2026-07, BLS LAUS, not seasonally adjusted).

Highest-Paying Careers

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  1. 1Surgeons, All Other$398,410
  2. 2Dermatologists$367,350
  3. 3Emergency Medicine Physicians$339,350
  4. 4Neurologists$325,550
  5. 5Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric$323,630

Largest Occupations

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  1. 1Retail Salespersons127,540 employed
  2. 2Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand116,720 employed
  3. 3Registered Nurses111,120 employed
  4. 4Cashiers106,440 employed
  5. 5Fast Food and Counter Workers92,230 employed

Highest Concentration

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  1. 1Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders6.60× national avg
  2. 2Upholsterers6.33× national avg
  3. 3Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders5.98× national avg
  4. 4Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders5.79× national avg
  5. 5Tire Builders5.68× national avg

Best Purchasing Power

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cost-of-living adjusted

  1. 1Surgeons, All Other$422,376
  2. 2Dermatologists$389,447
  3. 3Emergency Medicine Physicians$359,763
  4. 4Neurologists$345,133
  5. 5Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric$343,097

Strongest Opportunity Score

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  1. 1Financial Risk Specialists93.2 / 100
  2. 2Upholsterers93 / 100
  3. 3Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders92.5 / 100
  4. 4Credit Analysts91.9 / 100
  5. 5Tire Builders91.6 / 100

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 is a Career Atlas USA calculation — see methodology.