Salary Report for North Carolina Registered Nurses
North Carolina Rankings
Compare North Carolina to U.S.
North Carolina Registered Nurses earn an average of $71,200 which is 13% less than the national average salary of $82,750.
| Type | North Carolina | U.S. | % Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Hourly Wage | $34.23 | $39.78 | -13.95% |
| Average Annual Salary | $71,200 | $82,750 | -13.96% |
Salary Range by Education and Experience
In North Carolina, 50% of Registered Nurses earn between $60,550 and $78,670 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.
About 10% of Registered Nurses earn more than $95,360, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Registered Nurses.
Approximately 10% of Registered Nurses earn under $51,420, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Registered Nurses.
| Percent | Experience | Employed | Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | Less than a Year | 10,481 | Under $51,420 |
| 15% | 2 – 4 years | 15,722 | $51,420 – $60,550 |
| 25% | 5 – 9 years | 26,202 | $60,550 – $72,220 |
| 25% | 10 – 14 years | 26,202 | $72,220 – $78,670 |
| 15% | 15 – 20 years | 15,722 | $72,220 – $95,360 |
| 10% | 20+ years | 10,481 | Above $95,360 |
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living
After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Registered Nurses in North Carolina nurses earn about $77,526 per year which is less than the average U.S. nurse of $82,750.
Cost-of-living in North Carolina is 8% less than the national average, which means North Carolina residents have an overall less cost for food, housing, utilities and transportation compared to other states.
More cost-of-living reports for U.S. States.
Salary Compared to Related Professions
With an average annual salary of $71,200, North Carolina Registered Nurses tend to earn less than Nurse Anesthetists ($206,450), Nurse Practitioners ($112,730), Nurse Midwives ($102,960), and Nursing Instructors ($74,400).
However, Registered Nurses tend to earn more than Nursing Assistants ($29,410), and LPNs ($49,210).
| Title | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Nurse Anesthetists | $206,450 |
| Nurse Practitioners | $112,730 |
| Nurse Midwives | $102,960 |
| Nursing Instructors | $74,400 |
| Registered Nurses | $71,200 |
| LPNs | $49,210 |
| Nursing Assistants | $29,410 |
Projected Demand for Nurses in 2030
The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in North Carolina the three professions needing the most new nurses by 2030 are Registered Nurses (113,920), Nursing Assistants (61,600) and LPNs (18,280).
The three professions in North Carolina needing highest percentage new nurses by 2030 are Nurse Practitioners (55.2%), Nursing Instructors (19.2%) and Nurse Midwives (16.7%).
| Title | 2020 | 2030 | Change | Yearly Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | 102,150 | 113,920 | 11.5% | 6,780 |
| Nursing Assistants | 55,620 | 61,600 | 10.8% | 7,670 |
| LPNs | 16,740 | 18,280 | 9.2% | 1,480 |
| Nurse Practitioners | 5,670 | 8,800 | 55.2% | 690 |
| Nurse Anesthetists | 3,330 | 3,850 | 15.6% | 230 |
| Nursing Instructors | 2,240 | 2,670 | 19.2% | 270 |
| Nurse Midwives | 180 | 210 | 16.7% | 10 |
Salaries Ranked by North Carolina Cities
The average salary for Registered Nurses in North Carolina is $71,200. The top cities that pay Registered Nurses the most are Fayetteville ($74,650), Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia ($73,260) and Winston-Salem ($73,030).
When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Registered Nurses the highest average annual salary are Fayetteville ($83,129), Winston-Salem ($82,038) and Greensboro-High Point ($80,055).
The following table shows the average yearly salary range for Registered Nurses in each city, and the average yearly salary after being adjusted for cost-of-living in that state.
The difference column shows how much more or less purchasing power a Registered Nurses salary will have in that area.
| Area | Average Salary | COL Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville | $74,650 | $83,129 | $8,479 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $73,260 | $77,458 | $4,198 |
| Winston-Salem | $73,030 | $82,038 | $9,008 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $73,000 | $77,800 | $4,800 |
| Greensboro-High Point | $72,370 | $80,055 | $7,685 |
| Raleigh | $72,280 | $75,559 | $3,279 |
| Burlington | $71,460 | $79,127 | $7,667 |
| Greenville | $70,630 | $78,079 | $7,449 |
| Asheville | $70,050 | $76,067 | $6,017 |
| Wilmington | $68,440 | $71,695 | $3,255 |
| Piedmont North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area | $68,010 | $78,688 | $10,678 |
| Northeast Coastal North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area | $67,890 | $78,549 | $10,659 |
| Goldsboro | $66,260 | $74,324 | $8,064 |
| Jacksonville | $66,160 | $72,904 | $6,744 |
| Rocky Mount | $65,750 | $77,581 | $11,831 |
| Mountain North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area | $65,340 | $75,599 | $10,259 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | $64,640 | $73,739 | $9,099 |
| Southeast Coastal North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area | $64,610 | $74,754 | $10,144 |
| New Bern | $63,660 | $71,224 | $7,564 |
Salary FAQ for North Carolina Registered Nurses
City and Rural Summaries
Asheville
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $70,050
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $76,067
Hourly Wage: $33.68
Currently Employed: 5,340
Cost-of-Living Index: 92.09
Asheville Salary Report
Burlington
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $71,460
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $79,127
Hourly Wage: $34
Currently Employed: 1,000
Cost-of-Living Index: 90.31
Burlington Salary Report
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $73,260
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $77,458
Hourly Wage: $35.22
Currently Employed: 24,630
Cost-of-Living Index: 94.58
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia Salary Report
Durham-Chapel Hill
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $73,000
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $77,800
Hourly Wage: $35
Currently Employed: 15,230
Cost-of-Living Index: 93.83
Durham-Chapel Hill Salary Report
Fayetteville
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $74,650
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $83,129
Hourly Wage: $35.89
Currently Employed: 3,010
Cost-of-Living Index: 89.80
Fayetteville Salary Report
Goldsboro
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $66,260
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $74,324
Hourly Wage: $32
Currently Employed: 1,080
Cost-of-Living Index: 89.15
Goldsboro Salary Report
Greensboro-High Point
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $72,370
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $80,055
Hourly Wage: $34.79
Currently Employed: 5,720
Cost-of-Living Index: 90.40
Greensboro-High Point Salary Report
Greenville
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $70,630
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $78,079
Hourly Wage: $34
Currently Employed: 3,310
Cost-of-Living Index: 90.46
Greenville Salary Report
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $64,640
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $73,739
Hourly Wage: $31.08
Currently Employed: 2,970
Cost-of-Living Index: 87.66
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton Salary Report
Jacksonville
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $66,160
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $72,904
Hourly Wage: $32
Currently Employed: 770
Cost-of-Living Index: 90.75
Jacksonville Salary Report
Mountain North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $65,340
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $75,599
Hourly Wage: $31.41
Currently Employed: 2,190
Cost-of-Living Index: 86.43
Mountain North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area Salary Report
New Bern
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $63,660
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $71,224
Hourly Wage: $31
Currently Employed: 950
Cost-of-Living Index: 89.38
New Bern Salary Report
Northeast Coastal North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $67,890
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $78,549
Hourly Wage: $32.64
Currently Employed: 1,670
Cost-of-Living Index: 86.43
Northeast Coastal North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area Salary Report
Piedmont North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $68,010
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $78,688
Hourly Wage: $33
Currently Employed: 5,340
Cost-of-Living Index: 86.43
Piedmont North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area Salary Report
Raleigh
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $72,280
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $75,559
Hourly Wage: $34.75
Currently Employed: 11,230
Cost-of-Living Index: 95.66
Raleigh Salary Report
Rocky Mount
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $65,750
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $77,581
Hourly Wage: $32
Currently Employed: 1,110
Cost-of-Living Index: 84.75
Rocky Mount Salary Report
Southeast Coastal North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $64,610
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $74,754
Hourly Wage: $31.06
Currently Employed: 4,530
Cost-of-Living Index: 86.43
Southeast Coastal North Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area Salary Report
Wilmington
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $68,440
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $71,695
Hourly Wage: $33
Currently Employed: 3,540
Cost-of-Living Index: 95.46
Wilmington Salary Report
Winston-Salem
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $73,030
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $82,038
Hourly Wage: $35.11
Currently Employed: 9,120
Cost-of-Living Index: 89.02
Winston-Salem Salary Report
Official Data Sources for Registered Nurses: Salary Data | Projected Employment | Cost of Living Data
