How much do nursing assistants make in North Carolina?
What nursing assistants earn in North Carolina and its metro areas, compared with the rest of the country (May 2025 BLS data).
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Median pay in North Carolina
$38,460
a year, or $18.49 an hour. That is 9% less than the national median of $42,260.
The middle half of nursing assistants in North Carolina earn $35,950 to $43,850.
Pay range in North Carolina
- Bottom 10% earn under
- $30,260
- 25th percentile
- $35,950
- Median
- $38,460
- 75th percentile
- $43,850
- Top 10% earn over
- $47,080
Rank among states
#35 of 50
North Carolina pays nursing assistants more than 15 of the other 49 states. Highest: Oregon ($49,830).
Jobs in North Carolina
64,010
12.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the state, 1.39× the U.S. concentration.
Nursing Assistant pay in North Carolina cities
Metro and rural (nonmetropolitan) areas as BLS defines them, including metro areas that cross into neighboring states.. Click a column to sort.
| Area | Pay a year | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $18.96 | 13,580 | |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $18.75 | 8,110 | |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $19.09 | 6,420 | |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $18.39 | 5,280 | |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $19.50 | 4,830 | |
| Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $17.77 | 4,720 | |
| Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $17.58 | 4,720 | |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $18.59 | 4,450 | |
| Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $17.95 | 4,150 | |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $18.00 | 2,780 | |
| Asheville, NC | $19.31 | 2,590 | |
| Wilmington, NC | $18.13 | 2,390 | |
| Fayetteville, NC | $18.05 | 2,130 | |
| Greenville, NC | $18.98 | 1,730 | |
| Burlington, NC | $18.79 | 1,020 | |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $17.76 | 950 | |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $18.10 | 940 | |
| Goldsboro, NC | $18.53 | 600 | |
| Jacksonville, NC | $17.25 | 530 |
States with similar nursing assistant pay
Other healthcare salaries in North Carolina
Registered Nurses
$84,350
median a year · 111,120 jobs
Home Health and Personal Care Aides
$31,240
median a year · 58,880 jobs
Medical Assistants
$45,140
median a year · 23,650 jobs
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
$63,270
median a year · 18,010 jobs
Pharmacy Technicians
$44,530
median a year · 17,260 jobs
Physicians, All Other
$260,330
median a year · 14,080 jobs
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians
$60,650
median a year · 13,710 jobs
Dental Assistants
$50,380
median a year · 11,450 jobs
Pharmacists
$138,860
median a year · 11,430 jobs
Nurse Practitioners
$128,990
median a year · 9,800 jobs
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians
$74,450
median a year · 9,250 jobs
Physician Assistants
$129,360
median a year · 7,490 jobs
Questions about nursing assistant pay in North Carolina
How much does a nursing assistant make in North Carolina?
Nursing Assistants in North Carolina earned a median of $38,460 a year ($18.49 an hour) in May 2025, 9% less than the national median of $42,260. The middle half earned $35,950 to $43,850.
Where in North Carolina do nursing assistants earn the most?
Among areas in North Carolina, pay was highest in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC at $40,560.
How does North Carolina rank for nursing assistant pay?
North Carolina ranks #35 of 50 states for nursing assistants pay. Oregon pays the most, at $49,830 a year. Pay figures don't account for differences in cost of living.
How many nursing assistants work in North Carolina?
About 64,010 people worked as nursing assistants in North Carolina in May 2025, or 12.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the state.
North Carolina hospitals
North Carolina hospital star ratings
North Carolina hospital finances
North Carolina shortage areas
Hospitals per capita
All healthcare salaries
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, all industries. Median pay is the middle wage; where BLS publishes no median, the average (mean) is shown, marked "(avg)". Values marked "+" are above the most BLS reports exactly. Pay doesn't reflect cost of living, overtime or shift differentials.