Income and Employment Data
North Carolina offers a wide variety of job opportunities across many industries, from healthcare and education to technology, finance, and manufacturing. The state’s growing population and business-friendly environment mean more jobs are being created every year, especially in cities like Charlotte, Raleigh, and Durham. While wages vary by region and industry, the lower cost of living makes it easier for newcomers to find stable work and build a good quality of life.
Employment Landscape
- North Carolina employs more than 5 million people across a wide range of industries.
- Unemployment typically runs close to the national average (around 3.5–4.0% in 2024), though it can vary by region.
- Job growth has been strongest in urban centers like Charlotte, Raleigh, and Durham, but smaller cities such as Asheville and Wilmington are also adding jobs steadily.
Major Job Sectors
- Health Care & Social Assistance – The largest employer in NC, adding more than 135,000 new jobs from 2014–2024. Hospitals, nursing, and senior care are expanding rapidly due to the state’s aging population.
- Professional, Scientific & Technical Services – Strong in IT, biotech, engineering, and research, especially around the Research Triangle Park (RTP).
- Manufacturing – Still a cornerstone of the state, with 450,000+ jobs. North Carolina leads in food processing, aerospace parts, semiconductors, and automotive components.
- Finance & Insurance – Centered in Charlotte, which is home to major banks and a fast-growing fintech sector.
- Education – Public schools, community colleges, and universities employ tens of thousands statewide.
- Agriculture – Though fewer people work in farming directly today, agriculture-related industries (food, textiles, processing) still employ a large workforce.
Wages & Cost of Living
- The average annual wage in North Carolina is about $62,000, slightly below the national average, but the cost of living is also lower than in many other states.
- Housing, groceries, and transportation are especially affordable outside major metros.
- Wage growth is strongest in technology, finance, and biotech, while rural areas remain more reliant on lower-wage jobs in farming, retail, and manufacturing.
Workforce Demographics
- NC’s workforce is becoming more diverse and younger, with immigration and domestic migration filling in gaps as the native-born population ages.
- Around 40% of adults hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, and community colleges provide job-ready training in trades and technical fields.
- Many employers also partner directly with schools to create apprenticeships and workforce pipelines, especially in advanced manufacturing.
Regional Employment Highlights
- Charlotte Metro – Banking, finance, corporate HQs, logistics.
- Raleigh–Durham (Triangle) – Tech, research, biotech, higher education.
- Greensboro–Winston-Salem (Triad) – Manufacturing, aviation, logistics.
- Eastern NC – Agriculture, food processing, military bases (Fort Liberty, Cherry Point).
- Western NC – Tourism, healthcare, and growing remote-work hubs.
Future Outlook
- The fastest-growing jobs in NC include software developers, healthcare practitioners, clean energy technicians, and logistics specialists.
- With strong population growth and a business-friendly climate, employment opportunities are expected to keep expanding, particularly in tech and healthcare.