North Carolina's average registered nurse salary of $90,470 places it below Georgia ($95,080) and Virginia ($93,850) but above South Carolina ($87,670) and Tennessee ($85,390). This means your compensation budget is broadly in line with the regional market, though candidates relocating from Virginia or Georgia may expect higher offers. Anchoring your offer to the North Carolina median of $84,350 is a reasonable starting point for most mid-career hires.
Registered nurse salary in North Carolina (2026)
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The average registered nurse salary in North Carolina is $90,470 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $84,350 gives you a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. North Carolina employs 111,120 registered nurses, and the $6,120 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior registered nurses in North Carolina typically earn around $67,660, while senior specialists reach and exceed $110,220. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a registered nurse hire in North Carolina, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $84,350 |
Average Annual Salary | $90,470 |
vs. National Average | 10.8% below the national mean of $101,420 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 111,120 employed registered nurses across North Carolina.
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Registered nurse salary percentiles in North Carolina
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $67,660 |
25th Percentile | $78,770 |
75th Percentile | $102,040 |
90th Percentile | $110,220 |
When setting an offer for a registered nurse in North Carolina, the $78,770 to $102,040 band covers the middle half of the market and gives you a defensible range for most mid-career candidates. For senior or specialized roles, expect offers to reach toward or above $110,220.
City | Average Annual Salary |
Charlotte | $93,240 |
Raleigh | $91,890 |
Winston-Salem | $91,430 |
Greensboro | $90,430 |
Employers hiring registered nurses in Charlotte will need to budget slightly more than those hiring in other major North Carolina metros. Charlotte's average of $93,240 sits $2,810 above Greensboro's $90,430, so location-based pay differences exist but remain relatively narrow across the state's largest markets.
How North Carolina compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
North Carolina | $90,470 | $84,350 |
Georgia | $95,080 | $93,550 |
Virginia | $93,850 | $93,600 |
Florida | $90,650 | $84,190 |
South Carolina | $87,670 | $82,360 |
Tennessee | $85,390 | $81,500 |
North Carolina sits in the middle of the regional market, making it a cost-effective location relative to Georgia and Virginia but slightly more expensive than South Carolina and Tennessee. Georgia's average of $95,080 and Virginia's $93,850 both exceed North Carolina's $90,470, so employers recruiting across state lines should expect candidates from those markets to carry higher salary expectations. South Carolina and Tennessee both come in below North Carolina, which gives in-state employers a modest advantage when competing for talent from those markets.
Frequently asked questions about registered nurse salary in North Carolina
How does North Carolina compare to other states for registered nurse salary?
What do the top-earning registered nurses make in North Carolina?
The 90th percentile for registered nurses in North Carolina is $110,220, which represents the threshold that senior specialists in the state typically reach or exceed. When building offers for highly experienced or specialized candidates, plan for compensation at or above that level. The statewide average of $90,470 reflects the full distribution and gives useful context for where the broader market sits.
What is the salary range for a registered nurse in North Carolina?
Registered nurse salaries in North Carolina range from $67,660 at the 10th percentile to $110,220 at the 90th percentile. The middle half of the market falls between $78,770 and $102,040, which is the most useful band for setting offers for candidates with one to several years of experience. Your specific offer should reflect the seniority, specialty, and location of the role you are filling.
What is the average registered nurse salary in North Carolina?
The average registered nurse salary in North Carolina is $90,470 per year, which sits 10.8% below the national mean of $101,420. The median of $84,350 is a more grounded benchmark for most hiring decisions, since a smaller group of higher-compensated roles pulls the average upward. Use the median as your baseline and adjust upward based on the seniority and specialization of the candidate you are evaluating.
Registered Nurse salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 29-1141 (Registered Nurses).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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The Rippling Team
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