Registered Nurse salary in North Carolina
What registered nurses earn in North Carolina and its metro areas, compared with the rest of the country.
Median pay$84,350$40.56 per hour
vs U.S.−14%U.S. median $97,550
Middle half earn$78,770 – $102,040Top 10%: $110,220+
Jobs111,1201.03× the U.S. concentration
Registered Nurse pay in North Carolina cities
Metro areas as BLS defines them. Click a column to sort.
| Metro area | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $90,620 | $43.57 | 27,010 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $89,450 | $43.00 | 16,870 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $84,830 | $40.78 | 12,780 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $86,120 | $41.40 | 10,180 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $82,860 | $39.84 | 6,240 |
| Wilmington, NC | $80,970 | $38.93 | 5,040 |
| Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $80,890 | $38.89 | 4,950 |
| Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $82,100 | $39.47 | 4,760 |
| Asheville, NC | $81,590 | $39.22 | 4,680 |
| Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $81,470 | $39.17 | 4,210 |
| Greenville, NC | $81,670 | $39.26 | 3,770 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $83,060 | $39.93 | 3,430 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $80,060 | $38.49 | 3,020 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $81,520 | $39.19 | 1,510 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $82,300 | $39.57 | 1,180 |
| Burlington, NC | $84,180 | $40.47 | 1,080 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $82,740 | $39.78 | 950 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $84,750 | $40.74 | 870 |
Hospitals and jobs in North Carolina
Registered Nurse pay in similar states
Montana · $85,280 Nebraska · $84,730 Utah · $84,600 Florida · $84,190 Wyoming · $83,760 Indiana · $83,500
Other healthcare salaries in North Carolina
Nursing Assistants · $38,460 Home Health and Personal Care Aides · $31,240 Medical Assistants · $45,140 Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses · $63,270 Pharmacy Technicians · $44,530 Physicians, All Other · $260,330 Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians · $60,650 Dental Assistants · $50,380 Pharmacists · $138,860 Nurse Practitioners · $128,990 Radiologic Technologists and Technicians · $74,450 Physician Assistants · $129,360
Questions
How much does a registered nurse make in North Carolina?
Registered Nurses in North Carolina earned a median of $84,350 a year ($40.56 an hour) in May 2025, 14% less than the national median of $97,550. The middle half earned $78,770 to $102,040.
Where in North Carolina do registered nurses earn the most?
Among areas in North Carolina, pay was highest in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC at $90,620.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, all industries. Pay doesn't reflect cost of living, overtime or shift differentials.