Registered Nurses in the state of North Carolina earn an average annual salary of $68,950 per year (or $33.15 per hour) as of May 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 80% of North Carolina RNs earn between $50,820 and $93,250.
On average, RNs in North Carolina earn about 13% less than the national average salary for nurses, at $80,010 (or $38.47 per hour).
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The cost of living in a region can impact what nurses tend to earn working in those areas. With a Cost of Living Index of 96.1 in 2020, nurses in North Carolina can expect lower prices for food, housing, and transportation compared to other states. So, it’s understandable that their earnings would also be lower than the national average.
| State | Avg. RN Salary | Avg. RN Salary (adjusted for COL) |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | $68,950 | $71,748 |
| Nationwide | $80,010 | - |
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Average RN Salary In North Carolina Cities
North Carolina RN salaries vary quite a bit across the state, but the highest-paying regions for RNs are in the Fayetteville area, with average RN salaries at around $75,530. Winston-Salem is second at $70,640. RNs located in the Durham area can expect to earn about $74,170.
| Metro Area | RNs Employed | Avg. RN Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville, NC | 2,910 | $75,530 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | 12,710 | $70,790 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 8,900 | $70,640 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | 23,690 | $70,420 |
| Raleigh, NC | 11,270 | $70,110 |
| Greenville, NC | 3,460 | $68,390 |
| Goldsboro, NC | 1,180 | $66,440 |
| New Bern, NC | 1,030 | $64,770 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | 2,710 | $62,670 |
| Wilmington, NC | 3,460 | $62,490 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 960 | $65,160 |
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Average RN salary vs similar healthcare professions in North Carolina
At a $68,950 average annual salary, RNs in North Carolina tend to earn slightly less than some other types of healthcare workers in the state. Across all these professions, “Nurse Practitioners” and “Physical Therapists” workers in North Carolina earn an average salary ranging between $80,860-$108,370 according to the BLS.
Here’s how a sample of these other types of healthcare professions compare to RN salaries in North Carolina:
| Profession | # Employed | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | 99,110 | $68,950 |
| LPNs / LVNs | 16,250 | $47,120 |
| Pharmacy Technicians | 13,710 | $33,300 |
| Dental Hygienists | 6,700 | $71,140 |
| Physical Therapist | 6,070 | $86,890 |
| Nurse Practitioners | 6,040 | $108,370 |
Job outlook for Registered Nurses in North Carolina
About 99,110 RNs reside in the state of North Carolina. These jobs are still projected to increase by about 10.8% from 2018 to 2028 – an increase of almost 11,270 new RNs in the state in the coming years.
