Nurse pay in North Carolina
Nurses in North Carolina are being offered a median $92,300 a year right now across 1,382 live job postings that state pay — ranking #26 of 51 states. Updated October 26, 2026.
- 10th percentile
- $63k
- 25th percentile
- $77k
- 75th percentile
- $99k
- 90th percentile
- $118k
Where does your pay sit in North Carolina?
Checked against 1,382 live postings that state pay. Your number stays in your browser.
- 10th percentile
- $63k
- 25th percentile
- $77k
- 75th percentile
- $99k
- 90th percentile
- $118k
Enter your pay to see your percentile.
Posted offers on live listings — not take-home pay or a promise of what any one nurse will earn.
North Carolina market overview
- 25th percentile
- $76,528
- Median
- $92,300
- 75th percentile
- $99,320
- 90th percentile
- $117,566
- Median hourly (952 postings)
- $36/hr
- Sign-on bonus, median (312 postings)
- $10,000
- Sign-on bonus, highest posted
- $100,000
- Live postings stating pay
- 1,382
Annual figures are posted offers (midpoint of stated ranges) on live listings, updated October 26, 2026.
What each specialty is offered in North Carolina
| Specialty | Median | 90th percentile | Postings |
|---|---|---|---|
| ICU | $94k | $106k | 64 |
| Acute Care | $94k | $102k | 45 |
| Travel | $94k | $102k | 41 |
| Medical/Surgical | $94k | $105k | 34 |
| Pediatric | $99k | $103k | 32 |
| Nursing Management/Admin | $94k | $104k | 27 |
| Cardiac | $99k | $115k | 21 |
| Medical-Surgical | $99k | $107k | 21 |
| General | $92k | $121k | 17 |
| Telemetry | $99k | $108k | 17 |
| ER | $99k | $122k | 16 |
| Home Health | $92k | $99k | 16 |
| Practical Nurse | $63k | $73k | 15 |
| Emergency/Trauma | $94k | $101k | 14 |
| Oncology | $92k | $99k | 13 |
| Education/Staff Development | $94k | $106k | 12 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $122k | $146k | 12 |
| Emergency | $92k | $135k | 11 |
| Infectious Disease | $94k | $108k | 10 |
| Geriatric | $78k | $108k | 9 |
| Nursing Assistant | $51k | $52k | 9 |
| Step-Down | $94k | $101k | 9 |
| IV Therapy | $94k | $101k | 8 |
| Operating Room | $100k | $119k | 8 |
| Emergency Medicine | $99k | $103k | 7 |
| Rehabilitation | $99k | $104k | 7 |
| Trauma | $99k | $118k | 7 |
| Triage | $94k | $104k | 7 |
| Ambulatory Care | $92k | $92k | 6 |
| Internal Medicine | $92k | $100k | 6 |
| NICU | $99k | $112k | 6 |
| Outpatient | $92k | $105k | 6 |
| Skilled Nursing Facility | $81k | $88k | 6 |
| Case Management | $99k | $118k | 5 |
| Mental Health | $79k | $106k | 5 |
| Observation | $99k | $99k | 5 |
| Perioperative Care | $99k | $120k | 5 |
| Urgent Care | $79k | $92k | 5 |
Highest-offering employers in North Carolina right now
- #1$177k
BrightStar Care of Midtown Raleigh
median across 3 priced postings
- #2$125k
Cornerstone Caregiving
median across 3 priced postings
- #3$122k
AB Staffing Solutions
median across 3 priced postings
- #4$119k
HealthTrust Workforce Solutions
median across 23 priced postings
- #5$119k
US Veterans Health Administration
median across 8 priced postings
What are you being paid?
30 seconds, no name. After a quick review, your report joins the nurse-reported pay, always shown apart from what employers post, so nurses can compare the two.
What to do with this
- See the rolesSee open nursing roles in North CarolinaEvery posting behind these numbers is a live job you can open and apply to.
- Offer in hand?Review an offerTurn it into a full-year number, see what it's worth where you'd live, and compare offers side by side.
- 3-minute PULSEFind the work that brings out your bestPay is one axis. Your pace, decision style, connection, scope, and energy rhythm shape the rest.
- CommunityAsk nurses what they really take homeDifferentials, ratios, and the offer nobody posts. Bring your number and compare notes.
Want the craft behind the numbers — differentials, negotiating, travel packages? Read the pay & salary guides.
Questions nurses ask
- How much do nurses make in North Carolina?
- Across 1,382 live job postings in North Carolina that state pay, the median posted offer is $92,300 a year (about $36/hr). The middle half of postings runs $76,528–$99,320, and the top 10% start at $117,566.
- How does North Carolina nurse pay compare nationally?
- North Carolina's posted median of $92,300 is 4% below the national median ($95,680), ranking #26 of 51 states on the Pay Index right now.
- Do North Carolina nursing jobs offer sign-on bonuses?
- 312 live postings in North Carolina advertise a sign-on bonus right now, with a median of $10,000 and offers up to $100,000.