The Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metropolitan statistical area, as BLS defines it.
Pay data · metro area
Average Salary in Charlotte, NC-SC (2026)
The average salary in the Charlotte metro area is $68,900 a year and the median is $49,990: 2% below the US median and 4% above North Carolina's (BLS, May 2025). At national-average prices the median is worth $51,350, 178th of 387 metro areas.
- Average (mean) salary
- $68,900US $69,770
- Median salary
- $49,990US $50,980
- Median hourly
- $24.03BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Price level
- 97.3US = 100 · BEA 2024
The spread
What workers in Charlotte earn
| Percentile | Charlotte area | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,640 | $28,580 | $31,200 |
| 25th | $37,330 | $36,030 | $37,590 |
| 50th (median) | $49,990 | $47,970 | $50,980 |
| 75th | $79,830 | $75,610 | $80,520 |
| 90th | $130,510 | $119,640 | $128,560 |
| Mean | $68,900 | $64,290 | $69,770 |
Prices
Cost of living in Charlotte
BEA Regional Price Parities put the Charlotte area at 97.3 against a US average of 100. Matching a $100,000 national-average lifestyle takes about $97,350 here. Compare with another city.
US = 100
- All items97.3
- Housing (rents)97.6
- Goods96.6
- Utilities89.2
- Other services98.2
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| All items | 97.3 |
| Housing (rents) | 97.6 |
| Goods | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 89.2 |
| Other services | 98.2 |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Common jobs
What common jobs pay in Charlotte
Mean annual wage in the Charlotte area against the national mean for the same occupation (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
| Occupation | Charlotte area | US mean | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $93,250 | $101,420 | -8% |
| Software Developer | $139,030 | $148,100 | -6% |
| Elementary School Teacher | $58,400 | $72,650 | -20% |
| Accountant | $101,920 | $94,750 | +8% |
| Electrician | $59,090 | $71,490 | -17% |
| Truck Driver | $58,010 | $59,710 | -3% |
| Customer Service Representative | $46,070 | $46,590 | -1% |
| Retail Salesperson | $35,400 | $37,310 | -5% |
| Nursing Assistant | $41,410 | $42,700 | -3% |
| General and Operations Manager | $140,340 | $134,940 | +4% |
| Maintenance and Repair Worker, General | $54,120 | $53,780 | +1% |
| Cook, Restaurant | $37,110 | $38,730 | -4% |
The jobs
Best-paying jobs in Charlotte
BLS publishes estimates for 628 occupations in this metro. Highest mean pay, and the large occupations this area pays furthest above their national average.
Highest-paying jobs
Mean annual wage
- 1Pediatrician, General$233,880
- 2Financial Manager$207,500
- 3Psychiatrist$204,510
- 4IT Manager$194,560
- 5Dentist$193,670
- 6Lawyer$186,010
- 7Natural Sciences Manager$180,670
- 8Sales Manager$179,360
- 9Architectural and Engineering Manager$177,900
- 10Compensation and Benefits Manager$175,390
Jobs Charlotte pays above the national average
Occupations with 100,000+ US workers
- 1Real Estate Agent$85,160 · +23%
- 2First-Line Supervisor of Non-Retail Sales Workers$114,340 · +15%
- 3Financial Manager$207,500 · +11%
- 4Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Product$132,640 · +11%
- 5Manicurist and Pedicurist$42,450 · +10%
- 6First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$50,460 · +9%
- 7Sales Manager$179,360 · +9%
- 8Regulatory Affairs Manager$167,460 · +9%
- 9Multiple Machine Tool Setter, Operator, and Tender, Metal and Plastic$54,330 · +9%
- 10Loan Interviewer and Clerk$56,850 · +8%
Compare
Other metro areas in North Carolina
Method
About these numbers
- All-occupations wages for the metro are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 estimates (api.bls.gov). Wage and salary workers only; excludes the self-employed.
- Pay by occupation is the OEWS May 2025 mean for that occupation in this metro, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 prevailing-wage file. Only figures BLS estimated for this metro itself are used, never state or national fallbacks.
- Price levels are BEA Regional Price Parities for 2024. Price-adjusted pay is a NueCareer calculation (wage ÷ RPP/100).
Questions
Average salary in Charlotte: FAQ
What is the average salary in Charlotte?
Across all occupations in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area, the average (mean) annual wage is $68,900 and the median is $49,990, 2% below the US median (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That covers 1,358,370 wage and salary jobs.
What is a good salary in Charlotte?
Above $49,990 out-earns half of workers in the Charlotte area; the top 25% start at $79,830 and the top 10% at $130,510. Prices run 3% below the national average (BEA, 2024), so matching a $100,000 national-average lifestyle takes about $97,350 here.
Is Charlotte expensive to live in?
BEA's price level for the Charlotte metro is 97.3 (US = 100, 2024). Housing rents are 97.6, goods 96.6, utilities 89.2. At local prices the median wage is worth $51,350, 178th of 387 metros.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Charlotte?
By mean annual wage: Pediatrician, General ($233,880), Financial Manager ($207,500), Psychiatrist ($204,510), IT Manager ($194,560), Dentist ($193,670) (BLS OEWS May 2025, via the DOL wage file).