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 $74,710 and $98,720, with a median of $81,860.
Registered Nurses in North Carolina: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 46 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $76,752. 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 | 2 | $73,528 |
| Level II — qualified | 31 | $74,880 |
| Level III — experienced | 3 | $86,674 |
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 |
| Kupplin Worldwide LLC | Registered Nurse (Progressive Care Unit) | 9 | $74,880 |
| Cumberland County Hospital System, Inc | Registered Nurse - ICU | 8 | $82,711 |
| KL Health | Tier 2 Acute Care Step-Down ICU RN | 2 | $73,809 |
| The Charlotte Mecklenburg Hospital Authority | RN Supervisor | 2 | $89,960 |
| WakeMed | CLINICAL NURSE “ SURGICAL UNIT ENDOSCOPY | 1 | $99,882 |
| TRIANGLE HEALTHCARE CONSULTING SERVICES INC. | NURSE MANAGER | 1 | $69,410 |
| Pitt County Memorial Hospital, Inc. | Staff Nurse II (Medical Step Down Unit) | 1 | $76,586 |
| Iredell Memorial Hospital | Registered Nurse Float | 1 | $68,640 |
| FLINT HEALTHCARE INC. | Critical Care Registered Nurse | 1 | $83,200 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- CLINICAL NURSE “ SURGICAL UNIT ENDOSCOPY at WakeMed$99,882RaleighDecided Dec 29, 2025I-200-25353-497559
- NURSE MANAGER at TRIANGLE HEALTHCARE CONSULTING SERVICES INC.$69,410SMITHFIELDDecided Dec 23, 2025I-200-25350-485148
- Registered Nurse - Stepdown Unit at Cumberland County Hospital System, Inc$76,752FayettevilleDecided Dec 22, 2025I-200-25349-482207
- Tier 2 Acute Care Step-Down ICU RN at KL Health$73,216CharlotteWage Level IDecided Sep 15, 2025I-200-25251-293171
- Registered Nurse - Intensive Care Unit at Cumberland County Hospital System, Inc.$72,342FayettevilleWage Level IIDecided Sep 9, 2025I-200-25245-280051
- Registered Nurse (Cardiac Progressive Care) at Kupplin Worldwide LLC$78,000BurlingtonWage Level IIDecided Aug 20, 2025I-200-25225-240925
- Registered Nurse (Progressive Care Unit) at Kupplin Worldwide LLC$74,880GreensboroWage Level IIDecided Jun 17, 2025I-200-25161-075183
- Registered Nurse (Progressive Care Unit) at Kupplin Worldwide LLC$74,880GreensboroWage Level IIDecided Jun 17, 2025I-200-25161-075205
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.
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 37 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. | 16 | $76,752 |
| Registered Nurse - Intensive Care Unit | Cumberland County Hospital System, Inc. | 9 | $79,040 |
| Registered Nurse (Progressive Care Unit) | Kupplin Worldwide LLC | 9 | $74,880 |
| 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 46 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. | 33 | $79,040 |
| Professional services | Kupplin Worldwide LLC | 13 | $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 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 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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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 $81,860.
- How does North Carolina compare to the national median for Registered Nurses?
- The North Carolina median is -13.4% versus the BLS national figure of $94,511.
- What is the salary range for Registered Nurses in North Carolina?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $64,180 and the 90th-percentile at $107,110, 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.