What is the average salary in Durham, NC?
$76,450a year
Average yearly pay across 454 jobs with official data in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, weighted by employment. Each job below shows its median.
- Hourly
- $36.76
- Jobs with data
- 454
- Workers counted
- 295,700
Highest paying jobs
Median yearly pay.
| Chief Executive | $381,300 |
| Physician | $272,300 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $220,800 |
| Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon | $220,000 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $214,600 |
| Dentist | $208,500 |
| Orthodontist | $200,000 |
| Sales Manager | $190,400 |
| Natural Sciences Manager | $183,500 |
| Computer and Information Systems Manager | $176,200 |
Most common jobs
Median yearly pay.
| Software Developer | $135,600 |
| Retail Salesperson | $31,790 |
| Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant | $46,860 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $29,170 |
| Laborer and Freight | $37,750 |
| Cashier | $29,920 |
| Nursing Assistant | $40,560 |
| Customer Service Representative | $46,800 |
| Cook | $29,190 |
| Office Clerk | $47,010 |
Management
- Administrative Services Manager$107,700
- Architectural and Engineering Manager$172,500
- Chief Executive$381,300
- Compensation and Benefits Manager$105,300
- Computer and Information Systems Manager$176,200
- Construction Manager$120,000
- Education Administrator$89,750
- Education Administrator$84,050
- Education and Childcare Administrator$58,590
- Emergency Management Director$100,800
- Entertainment and Recreation Manager$82,090
- Facilities Manager$119,000
- Financial Manager$165,500
- Food Service Manager$75,800
- Fundraising Manager$128,800
- General and Operations Manager$113,900
- Human Resources Manager$160,600
- Industrial Production Manager$138,000
- Lodging Manager$78,610
- Manager$152,100
- Marketing Manager$175,200
- Medical and Health Services Manager$134,000
- Natural Sciences Manager$183,500
- Property$61,010
- Public Relations Manager$137,900
- Purchasing Manager$160,400
- Sales Manager$190,400
- Social and Community Service Manager$81,940
- Training and Development Manager$134,800
- Transportation$116,300
Business and financial operations
- Accountant and Auditor$85,090
- Budget Analyst$82,350
- Business Operations Specialist$95,460
- Buyer and Purchasing Agent$79,620
- Claims Adjuster$84,930
- Compensation$65,420
- Compliance Officer$83,780
- Cost Estimator$80,800
- Credit Analyst$77,750
- Financial and Investment Analyst$102,100
- Financial Risk Specialist$109,800
- Financial Specialist$83,650
- Fundraiser$78,280
- Human Resources Specialist$81,100
- Insurance Underwriter$79,830
- Loan Officer$64,130
- Logistician$84,300
- Management Analyst$126,100
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist$93,110
- Meeting$54,930
- Personal Financial Advisor$63,300
- Project Management Specialist$104,900
- Property Appraiser and Assessor$65,050
- Tax Preparer$57,090
- Training and Development Specialist$74,530
Computer and mathematical
- Computer and Information Research Scientist$137,000
- Computer Network Architect$145,000
- Computer Network Support Specialist$81,090
- Computer Occupation$126,300
- Computer Programmer$105,200
- Computer Systems Analyst$106,400
- Computer User Support Specialist$71,750
- Data Scientist$106,500
- Database Administrator$118,000
- Database Architect$141,800
- Information Security Analyst$129,700
- Mathematical Science Occupation$109,700
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator$110,600
- Operations Research Analyst$109,100
- Software Developer$135,600
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester$123,000
- Statistician$103,300
- Web and Digital Interface Designer$133,300
- Web Developer$96,880
Architecture and engineering
- Architect$98,620
- Architectural and Civil Drafter$61,080
- Bioengineer and Biomedical Engineer$99,050
- Calibration Technologist and Technician$60,960
- Cartographer and Photogrammetrist$77,320
- Chemical Engineer$117,400
- Civil Engineer$93,940
- Civil Engineering Technologist and Technician$57,680
- Computer Hardware Engineer$175,100
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician$64,320
- Electrical Engineer$129,000
- Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologist and Technician$81,190
- Electronics Engineer$155,700
- Engineer$127,700
- Engineering Technologist and Technician$60,340
- Environmental Engineer$108,000
- Health and Safety Engineer$116,800
- Industrial Engineer$102,900
- Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician$63,870
- Landscape Architect$84,270
- Materials Engineer$117,000
- Mechanical Drafter$63,680
- Mechanical Engineer$101,700
- Mechanical Engineering Technologist and Technician$62,020
- Surveying and Mapping Technician$62,420
- Surveyor$83,420
Life, physical, and social science
- Anthropologist and Archeologist$80,270
- Biochemist and Biophysicist$87,650
- Biological Scientist$98,700
- Biological Technician$58,400
- Chemical Technician$64,500
- Chemist$81,580
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologist$93,420
- Conservation Scientist$81,780
- Economist$152,100
- Environmental Science and Protection Technician$62,650
- Environmental Scientist and Specialist$82,840
- Epidemiologist$82,990
- Forest and Conservation Technician$50,080
- Geoscientist$99,560
- Life$49,030
- Life Scientist$105,900
- Materials Scientist$123,100
- Medical Scientist$96,430
- Microbiologist$85,860
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialist$98,490
- Occupational Health and Safety Technician$73,230
- Physical Scientist$128,400
- Psychologist$64,650
- School Psychologist$62,460
- Social Scientist and Related Worker$81,420
- Sociologist$126,800
- Soil and Plant Scientist$86,570
- Urban and Regional Planner$85,290
- Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist$80,360
Community and social service
- Child$62,370
- Clergy$61,030
- Community and Social Service Specialist$58,410
- Community Health Worker$46,760
- Counselor$57,030
- Educational$58,460
- Health Education Specialist$76,380
- Healthcare Social Worker$77,160
- Marriage and Family Therapist$49,690
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker$60,390
- Probation Officer and Correctional Treatment Specialist$54,860
- Rehabilitation Counselor$46,670
- Social and Human Service Assistant$45,490
- Social Worker$91,080
- Substance Abuse$59,560
Legal
- Lawyer$132,800
- Legal Support Worker$88,210
- Paralegal and Legal Assistant$52,500
- Title Examiner$50,720
Educational instruction and library
- Adult Basic Education$58,540
- Area$61,130
- Art$62,130
- Atmospheric$103,000
- Business Teacher$79,390
- Career/Technical Education Teacher$66,290
- Career/Technical Education Teacher$57,650
- Career/Technical Education Teacher$57,390
- Communications Teacher$61,250
- Curator$49,240
- Elementary School Teacher$51,400
- English Language and Literature Teacher$64,140
- Foreign Language and Literature Teacher$63,940
- Health Specialties Teacher$125,500
- Instructional Coordinator$61,480
- Kindergarten Teacher$50,320
- Librarian and Media Collections Specialist$74,980
- Middle School Teacher$51,340
- Museum Technician and Conservator$41,560
- Nursing Instructor and Teacher$101,600
- Preschool Teacher$36,600
- Recreation and Fitness Studies Teacher$79,030
- Secondary School Teacher$57,870
- Self-Enrichment Teacher$46,730
- Social Sciences Teacher$62,220
- Social Work Teacher$62,250
- Special Education Teacher$46,630
- Special Education Teacher$58,260
- Special Education Teacher$58,600
- Special Education Teacher$58,490
- Substitute Teacher$35,190
- Teacher and Instructor$62,560
- Teaching Assistant$29,090
- Tutor$45,350
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media
- Art Director$93,740
- Audio and Video Technician$49,940
- Commercial and Industrial Designer$88,190
- Editor$80,410
- Floral Designer$35,930
- Graphic Designer$63,580
- Interior Designer$61,670
- Interpreter and Translator$51,990
- Merchandise Displayer and Window Trimmer$39,080
- Musician and Singer$59,410
- Photographer$36,670
- Producer and Director$69,820
- Public Relations Specialist$76,970
- Special Effects Artist and Animator$109,300
- Technical Writer$94,520
- Writer and Author$84,130
Healthcare practitioners and technical
- Acupuncturist$89,990
- Audiologist$92,470
- Dental Hygienist$101,500
- Dentist$208,500
- Dietetic Technician$41,260
- Dietitian and Nutritionist$74,630
- Emergency Medical Technician$46,330
- Family Medicine Physician$220,800
- General Internal Medicine Physician$214,600
- Health Technologist and Technician$54,610
- Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioner$123,300
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse$66,950
- Medical Records Specialist$57,290
- Nurse Practitioner$132,300
- Occupational Therapist$83,160
- Ophthalmic Medical Technician$65,000
- Optician$58,310
- Optometrist$166,900
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon$220,000
- Orthodontist$200,000
- Paramedic$64,310
- Pharmacist$141,400
- Pharmacy Technician$47,350
- Physical Therapist$100,200
- Physician$272,300
- Physician$78,370
- Physician Assistant$132,700
- Psychiatric Technician$44,100
- Psychiatrist$170,600
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician$80,430
- Recreational Therapist$53,100
- Speech-Language Pathologist$83,460
- Surgical Technologist$60,610
- Veterinarian$132,500
- Veterinary Technologist and Technician$50,660
Healthcare support
- Dental Assistant$51,670
- Healthcare Support Worker$43,220
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide$33,630
- Massage Therapist$61,170
- Medical Assistant$46,450
- Medical Equipment Preparer$44,230
- Medical Transcriptionist$26,850
- Nursing Assistant$40,560
- Occupational Therapy Assistant$66,230
- Pharmacy Aide$37,000
- Phlebotomist$47,690
- Physical Therapist Aide$37,580
- Physical Therapist Assistant$73,970
- Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker$37,980
Protective service
- Correctional Officer and Jailer$50,450
- Crossing Guard and Flagger$35,770
- Detective and Criminal Investigator$68,790
- Fire Inspector and Investigator$75,470
- Firefighter$38,350
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Worker$59,520
- First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detective$97,180
- First-Line Supervisors of Security Worker$60,200
- Lifeguard$27,280
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer$60,100
- Private Detective and Investigator$53,610
- Protective Service Worker$57,790
- School Bus Monitor$37,630
- Security Guard$38,530
Food preparation and serving
- Bartender$37,110
- Chef and Head Cook$66,090
- Cook$29,190
- Cook$38,970
- Cook$36,170
- Cook$35,040
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper$27,410
- Dishwasher$33,800
- Fast Food and Counter Worker$29,170
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker$46,150
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker$34,480
- Food Preparation Worker$34,560
- Food Server$34,500
- Host and Hostess$29,440
- Waiter and Waitress$35,230
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance
Personal care and service
- Amusement and Recreation Attendant$27,470
- Animal Caretaker$33,960
- Animal Trainer$39,560
- Childcare Worker$30,970
- Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor$49,410
- First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Worker$55,050
- First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Worker$49,580
- Funeral Attendant$36,540
- Hairdresser$48,060
- Mortician$63,450
- Recreation Worker$31,720
- Residential Advisor$56,170
- Skincare Specialist$42,870
- Tour and Travel Guide$34,370
- Usher$29,120
Sales and related
- Advertising Sales Agent$61,680
- Cashier$29,920
- Counter and Rental Clerk$38,480
- Demonstrator and Product Promoter$37,290
- First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Worker$102,300
- First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Worker$48,720
- Insurance Sales Agent$59,120
- Parts Salesperson$31,890
- Real Estate Broker$124,200
- Real Estate Sales Agent$60,230
- Retail Salesperson$31,790
- Sale and Related Worker$37,440
- Sales Engineer$175,300
- Sales Representative$131,100
- Sales Representative$70,870
- Sales Representatives of Service$72,460
- Security$62,070
- Travel Agent$57,390
Office and administrative support
- Bill and Account Collector$43,650
- Billing and Posting Clerk$54,560
- Bookkeeping$50,790
- Courier and Messenger$40,050
- Court$51,490
- Customer Service Representative$46,800
- Data Entry Keyer$40,470
- Dispatcher$50,350
- Eligibility Interviewer$55,690
- Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant$64,170
- File Clerk$48,720
- First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Worker$68,450
- Hotel$30,960
- Human Resources Assistant$50,530
- Information and Record Clerk$33,870
- Insurance Claim and Policy Processing Clerk$52,560
- Interviewer$47,280
- Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant$47,490
- Library Assistant$46,940
- Loan Interviewer and Clerk$60,260
- Mail Clerk and Mail Machine Operator$41,210
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant$46,860
- Office and Administrative Support Worker$50,720
- Office Clerk$47,010
- Office Machine Operator$46,880
- Order Clerk$40,610
- Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk$56,400
- Postal Service Clerk$61,570
- Postal Service Mail Carrier$62,960
- Procurement Clerk$51,110
- Production$50,170
- Receptionist and Information Clerk$35,990
- Secretary and Administrative Assistant$47,840
- Shipping$44,160
- Teller$45,460
- Weigher$41,640
Farming, fishing, and forestry
- Farmworker and Laborer$35,900
Construction and extraction
- Carpenter$51,540
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher$44,420
- Construction and Building Inspector$73,590
- Construction Laborer$46,560
- Electrician$59,220
- First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trade and Extraction Worker$75,430
- Glazier$47,270
- Hazardous Materials Removal Worker$49,850
- Helpers--Electrician$43,920
- Helpers--Pipelayer$45,340
- Highway Maintenance Worker$44,550
- Insulation Worker$49,450
- Miscellaneous Construction and Related Worker$48,750
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator$50,820
- Painter$46,520
- Paving$54,800
- Pipelayer$46,860
- Plumber$60,110
- Septic Tank Servicer and Sewer Pipe Cleaner$56,120
- Sheet Metal Worker$46,240
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker$57,810
Installation, maintenance, and repair
- Automotive Body and Related Repairer$52,440
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic$51,580
- Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist$60,540
- Computer$47,850
- Control and Valve Installer and Repairer$65,590
- Electrical and Electronics Repairer$76,740
- Electrical and Electronics Repairer$99,590
- Electrical Power-Line Installer and Repairer$71,400
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanic$76,800
- Heating$59,180
- Helpers--Installation$37,370
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic$63,140
- Installation$47,010
- Locksmith and Safe Repairer$53,060
- Maintenance and Repair Worker$49,130
- Maintenance Worker$62,560
- Mechanical Door Repairer$55,940
- Medical Equipment Repairer$65,890
- Millwright$62,860
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanic$76,430
- Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanic$49,930
- Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairer$50,340
- Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installer$47,050
- Telecommunications Equipment Installer and Repairer$66,430
- Telecommunications Line Installer and Repairer$49,800
- Tire Repairer and Changer$35,170
Production
- Baker$35,100
- Butcher and Meat Cutter$39,780
- Cabinetmaker and Bench Carpenter$47,530
- Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender$60,080
- Coating$46,600
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator$48,560
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer$51,540
- Cutting$45,930
- Cutting and Slicing Machine Setter$41,210
- Electrical$43,950
- Extruding$37,650
- First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Worker$77,930
- Food Processing Worker$37,550
- Helpers--Production Worker$40,290
- Inspector$49,390
- Jeweler and Precious Stone and Metal Worker$63,650
- Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker$34,570
- Machinist$50,740
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator$39,000
- Mixing and Blending Machine Setter$48,410
- Molding$40,820
- Multiple Machine Tool Setter$46,360
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender$50,260
- Prepress Technician and Worker$57,850
- Print Binding and Finishing Worker$49,110
- Printing Press Operator$43,440
- Production Worker$42,620
- Sawing Machine Setter$39,370
- Separating$55,920
- Sewing Machine Operator$34,850
- Tailor$38,000
- Textile$34,570
- Upholsterer$51,060
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator$61,360
- Welder$49,280
- Welding$40,560
- Woodworking Machine Setter$45,430
Transportation and material moving
- Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendant$33,960
- Bus Driver$40,650
- Bus Driver$46,460
- Cleaners of Vehicle and Equipment$35,580
- Crane and Tower Operator$73,710
- Driver/Sales Worker$30,970
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Worker$62,000
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver$53,280
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator$44,090
- Laborer and Freight$37,750
- Light Truck Driver$40,730
- Motor Vehicle Operator$29,900
- Packer and Packager$36,220
- Parking Attendant$30,280
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector$46,160
- Shuttle Driver and Chauffeur$35,610
- Stocker and Order Filler$36,410
Frequently asked questions
What is the average salary in Durham, NC?
About $76,450 a year ($36.76 an hour): the average of the 454 jobs with official data, weighted by how many people do each one.
What are the highest paying jobs in Durham, NC?
Chief Executive ($381,300), Physician ($272,300), Family Medicine Physician ($220,800).
What are the most common jobs in Durham, NC?
Software Developer (9,790 jobs), Retail Salesperson (5,850 jobs), Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant (5,820 jobs).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.