Registered Nurses in North Carolina. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
Registered Nurses in North Carolina earned a median of $81,860 in 2024, about 13% below the US median of $94,511. That gap is real, but it looks different once you account for what the money actually buys. North Carolina's cost-of-living index sits at 95, meaning prices run roughly 5% below the national average. Adjusted for that, the effective purchasing power of the state median lands closer to $86,200 in national-baseline dollars, cutting the gap to around 9%.
The spread across earners is worth noting. A nurse at the 10th percentile earned $64,180, while one at the 90th earned $107,110. Top earners make about 1.7 times what the lowest-paid nurses make. That range reflects the distance between an entry-level position at a smaller community hospital and a senior or specialty role at a larger health system. The 75th-percentile figure of $98,720 shows that a meaningful share of nurses in the state do clear six figures, even if the median sits well below that mark.
The mean annual wage of $86,270 runs about $4,400 above the median. A smaller group of higher-earning nurses pulls the average up, which is a common pattern in this occupation.
BLS projects employment for Registered Nurses to grow 4.9% between 2024 and 2034, in line with the average rate across all occupations. North Carolina's total employment of 108,510 nurses makes it one of the larger state markets for the occupation. That scale, combined with ongoing retirements in an aging workforce, tends to support steady openings even at average growth rates.
Salary distribution
Where North Carolina registered nurses fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $78,770 and $102,040, with a median of $84,350.
Registered Nurses in North Carolina: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 51 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $76,586. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 5 | $69,410 |
| Level II — qualified | 42 | $76,669 |
| Level III — experienced | 3 | $86,674 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 1 | $99,882 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Registered Nurses in North Carolina. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cumberland County Hospital System, Inc. | Registered Nurse - Stepdown Unit | 20 | $77,896 |
| Cumberland County Hospital System, Inc | Registered Nurse - ICU | 10 | $82,711 |
| Kupplin Worldwide LLC | Registered Nurse (Progressive Care Unit) | 9 | $74,880 |
| KL Health | ICU Registered Nurse | 2 | $73,809 |
| NORTH RALEIGH OPERATOR, LLC | NURSE MANAGER | 2 | $69,410 |
| The Charlotte Mecklenburg Hospital Authority | RN Clinical Supervisor | 2 | $89,960 |
| FLINT HEALTHCARE INC. | Critical Care Registered Nurse | 1 | $83,200 |
| Iredell Memorial Hospital | Registered Nurse Float | 1 | $68,640 |
| NeuKloud Inc | Registered Nurse | 1 | $71,157 |
| Pitt County Memorial Hospital, Inc. | Staff Nurse II (Medical Step Down Unit) | 1 | $76,586 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- NURSE MANAGER at NORTH RALEIGH OPERATOR, LLC$69,410RALEIGHWage Level IDecided Mar 23, 2026I-200-26075-705507
- Registered Nurse at NeuKloud Inc$71,157PembrokeWage Level IIDecided Feb 25, 2026I-200-26049-649180
- Registered Nurse at Cumberland County Hospital System, Inc$74,506FayettevilleWage Level IIDecided Feb 24, 2026I-200-26048-645148
- CLINICAL NURSE – SURGICAL UNIT ENDOSCOPY at WakeMed$99,882RaleighWage Level IVDecided Dec 29, 2025I-200-25353-497559
- NURSE MANAGER at TRIANGLE HEALTHCARE CONSULTING SERVICES INC.$69,410SMITHFIELDWage Level IDecided Dec 23, 2025I-200-25350-485148
- Registered Nurse - Stepdown Unit at Cumberland County Hospital System, Inc$76,752FayettevilleWage Level IIDecided Dec 22, 2025I-200-25349-482207
- Registered Nurse- Stepdown Unit at Cumberland County Hospital System, Inc$79,040FayettevilleWage Level IIDecided Dec 1, 2025I-200-25325-429584
- Registered Nurse - ICU at Cumberland County Hospital System, Inc$86,382FayettevilleWage Level IIDecided Dec 1, 2025I-200-25325-429658
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Registered Nurses pay by experience level in North Carolina
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Registered Nurses specialties in North Carolina
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 43 certified offers. The most common variant is Registered Nurse - Stepdown Unit at a median of $76,752.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse - Stepdown Unit | Cumberland County Hospital System, Inc. | 17 | $76,752 |
| Registered Nurse (Progressive Care Unit) | Kupplin Worldwide LLC | 11 | $74,880 |
| Registered Nurse - Intensive Care Unit | Cumberland County Hospital System, Inc. | 9 | $79,040 |
| NURSE MANAGER | NORTH RALEIGH OPERATOR, LLC | 3 | $69,410 |
| Registered Nurse - ICU | Cumberland County Hospital System, Inc | 3 | $97,219 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Registered Nurses in North Carolina, by industry
Median offered wage across 51 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Healthcare leads with a median of $79,040.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | Cumberland County Hospital System, Inc. | 37 | $79,040 |
| Professional services | Kupplin Worldwide LLC | 14 | $74,880 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in North Carolina over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.6 / 5
Psychology
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Medicine and Dentistry
Knowledge
- 4.2 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Deductive Reasoning
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Social Perceptiveness
Technical
- 4.1 / 5
Problem Sensitivity
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Speaking
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Record patients' medical information and vital signs.
- 02
Administer medications to patients and monitor patients for reactions or side effects.
- 03
Maintain accurate, detailed reports and records.
- 04
Monitor, record, and report symptoms or changes in patients' conditions.
- 05
Provide health care, first aid, immunizations, or assistance in convalescence or rehabilitation in locations such as schools, hospitals, or industry.
- 06
Consult and coordinate with healthcare team members to assess, plan, implement, or evaluate patient care plans.
- 07
Direct or supervise less-skilled nursing or healthcare personnel or supervise a particular unit.
- 08
Monitor all aspects of patient care, including diet and physical activity.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+4.9%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Metro-level salary data for registered nurses in major North Carolina metropolitan areas.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Registered Nurses in North Carolina?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Registered Nurses in North Carolina is $84,350.
- How does North Carolina compare to the national median for Registered Nurses?
- The North Carolina median is -14.2% versus the BLS national figure of $98,331.
- What is the salary range for Registered Nurses in North Carolina?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $67,660 and the 90th-percentile at $110,220, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Registered Nurses a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 4.9% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Registered Nurses?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.