The Wilmington, NC metropolitan statistical area, as BLS defines it.
Pay data · metro area
Average Salary in Wilmington, NC (2026)
The average salary in the Wilmington metro area is $58,480 a year and the median is $45,800: 10% below the US median and 5% below North Carolina's (BLS, May 2025). At national-average prices the median is worth $47,500, 324th of 387 metro areas.
- Average (mean) salary
- $58,480US $69,770
- Median salary
- $45,800US $50,980
- Median hourly
- $22.02BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Price level
- 96.4US = 100 · BEA 2024
The spread
What workers in Wilmington earn
| Percentile | Wilmington area | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27,560 | $28,580 | $31,200 |
| 25th | $34,160 | $36,030 | $37,590 |
| 50th (median) | $45,800 | $47,970 | $50,980 |
| 75th | $66,270 | $75,610 | $80,520 |
| 90th | $103,120 | $119,640 | $128,560 |
| Mean | $58,480 | $64,290 | $69,770 |
Prices
Cost of living in Wilmington
BEA Regional Price Parities put the Wilmington area at 96.4 against a US average of 100. Matching a $100,000 national-average lifestyle takes about $96,420 here. Compare with another city.
US = 100
- All items96.4
- Housing (rents)93.2
- Goods96.6
- Utilities87.9
- Other services98.2
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| All items | 96.4 |
| Housing (rents) | 93.2 |
| Goods | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 87.9 |
| Other services | 98.2 |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Common jobs
What common jobs pay in Wilmington
Mean annual wage in the Wilmington area against the national mean for the same occupation (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
| Occupation | Wilmington area | US mean | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $87,900 | $101,420 | -13% |
| Software Developer | $131,460 | $148,100 | -11% |
| Elementary School Teacher | $52,020 | $72,650 | -28% |
| Accountant | $85,970 | $94,750 | -9% |
| Electrician | $55,270 | $71,490 | -23% |
| Truck Driver | $51,690 | $59,710 | -13% |
| Customer Service Representative | $41,250 | $46,590 | -11% |
| Retail Salesperson | $33,970 | $37,310 | -9% |
| Nursing Assistant | $38,110 | $42,700 | -11% |
| General and Operations Manager | $118,350 | $134,940 | -12% |
| Maintenance and Repair Worker, General | $46,740 | $53,780 | -13% |
| Cook, Restaurant | $34,130 | $38,730 | -12% |
The jobs
Best-paying jobs in Wilmington
BLS publishes estimates for 411 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
- 1Nurse Anesthetist$222,520
- 2Family Medicine Physician$204,980
- 3Optometrist$204,690
- 4Dentist$198,120
- 5Natural Sciences Manager$182,560
- 6Architectural and Engineering Manager$176,280
- 7Financial Manager$174,430
- 8IT Manager$168,650
- 9Marketing Manager$163,800
- 10Commercial Pilot$162,700
Jobs Wilmington pays above the national average
Occupations with 100,000+ US workers
- 1Loan Officer$103,380 · +18%
- 2Inspector, Tester, Sorter, Sampler, and Weigher$62,150 · +16%
- 3Loan Interviewer and Clerk$58,220 · +11%
- 4Bartender$43,390 · +6%
- 5Facilities Manager$122,530 · +5%
- 6Physical Therapist Assistant$71,990 · +5%
- 7Industrial Production Manager$140,440 · +5%
- 8Financial Quantitative Analyst$97,660 · +4%
- 9Court, Municipal, and License Clerk$54,310 · +4%
- 10Machinist$61,550 · +4%
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 Wilmington: FAQ
What is the average salary in Wilmington?
Across all occupations in the Wilmington, NC metro area, the average (mean) annual wage is $58,480 and the median is $45,800, 10% below the US median (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That covers 191,280 wage and salary jobs.
What is a good salary in Wilmington?
Above $45,800 out-earns half of workers in the Wilmington area; the top 25% start at $66,270 and the top 10% at $103,120. Prices run 4% below the national average (BEA, 2024), so matching a $100,000 national-average lifestyle takes about $96,420 here.
Is Wilmington expensive to live in?
BEA's price level for the Wilmington metro is 96.4 (US = 100, 2024). Housing rents are 93.2, goods 96.6, utilities 87.9. At local prices the median wage is worth $47,500, 324th of 387 metros.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Wilmington?
By mean annual wage: Nurse Anesthetist ($222,520), Family Medicine Physician ($204,980), Optometrist ($204,690), Dentist ($198,120), Natural Sciences Manager ($182,560) (BLS OEWS May 2025, via the DOL wage file).