North CarolinaCOL index: 100

Salaries in Charlotte, NC

Charlotte, North Carolina offers career opportunities with 4.75% state income tax. Browse salary data for every major occupation below — all figures are Charlotte-specific, updated quarterly from BLS and H-1B disclosures.

Compare Charlotte COL →

Population

874,579

COL index

100 / 100

Avg 1BR rent

$1,550/mo

State income tax

4.75%

Technology salaries in Charlotte

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Software Engineer	$95K	$130K	$165K	$210K	+4.2%
Data Scientist	$100K	$138K	$175K	$220K	+5.1%
Product Manager	$110K	$148K	$190K	$240K	+3.8%
DevOps Engineer	$105K	$140K	$178K	$215K	+6.2%
Cybersecurity Analyst	$85K	$115K	$148K	$185K	+7.3%
UX Designer	$72K	$99K	$130K	$165K	+3.1%
Machine Learning Engineer	$125K	$168K	$215K	$275K	+8.4%
Cloud Architect	$130K	$170K	$215K	$265K	+6.8%
Frontend Developer	$82K	$112K	$145K	$185K	+4.5%
Backend Developer	$90K	$125K	$160K	$200K	+4.3%
Full Stack Developer	$88K	$120K	$155K	$195K	+4.6%
Mobile Developer	$90K	$125K	$162K	$205K	+5.2%
Data Engineer	$98K	$132K	$168K	$210K	+6.5%
Data Analyst	$60K	$82K	$108K	$140K	+4%
Database Administrator	$78K	$105K	$135K	$170K	+2.8%
Systems Administrator	$62K	$86K	$112K	$142K	+2.2%
Network Engineer	$75K	$100K	$130K	$165K	+3%
IT Manager	$100K	$135K	$172K	$215K	+3.5%
Scrum Master	$88K	$115K	$145K	$180K	+3.2%
Solutions Architect	$120K	$158K	$200K	$250K	+5.8%
AI Engineer	$130K	$175K	$225K	$290K	+12%
Blockchain Developer	$110K	$150K	$195K	$250K	+7.5%
QA Engineer	$70K	$95K	$125K	$158K	+3%
Site Reliability Engineer	$115K	$152K	$192K	$238K	+7%
Embedded Systems Engineer	$85K	$112K	$142K	$178K	+3.8%
Technical Writer	$58K	$79K	$102K	$130K	+2.5%
IT Support Specialist	$42K	$58K	$76K	$98K	+2%
Information Security Manager	$115K	$152K	$195K	$245K	+7.8%
Penetration Tester	$88K	$118K	$152K	$195K	+8.2%
Computer Vision Engineer	$120K	$162K	$208K	$265K	+9.5%
NLP Engineer	$125K	$168K	$215K	$272K	+10.2%
Game Developer	$72K	$98K	$132K	$172K	+4.8%
Salesforce Developer	$90K	$120K	$155K	$195K	+5.5%
ERP Consultant	$85K	$115K	$150K	$190K	+3.8%

Healthcare salaries in Charlotte

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Registered Nurse	$66K	$84K	$106K	$133K	+3.5%
Physician Assistant	$110K	$133K	$158K	$189K	+4.8%
Physical Therapist	$77K	$97K	$117K	$143K	+3.2%
Healthcare Administrator	$73K	$106K	$143K	$189K	+4.1%
Nurse Practitioner	$102K	$123K	$148K	$179K	+5.2%
Pharmacist	$120K	$135K	$151K	$168K	+1.2%
Medical Doctor	$199K	$253K	$326K	$428K	+2.8%
Dentist	$151K	$184K	$230K	$296K	+2.5%
Occupational Therapist	$73K	$92K	$112K	$135K	+3.8%
Radiologist	$296K	$388K	$479K	$571K	+2.2%
Surgeon	$286K	$388K	$510K	$663K	+2.5%
Anesthesiologist	$306K	$398K	$490K	$592K	+2.1%
Medical Lab Technician	$43K	$57K	$73K	$92K	+3.2%
Respiratory Therapist	$59K	$73K	$92K	$114K	+3.8%
Speech-Language Pathologist	$69K	$87K	$107K	$131K	+4.2%
Clinical Psychologist	$73K	$97K	$128K	$165K	+3.5%
Psychiatrist	$199K	$253K	$316K	$408K	+3.8%
Medical Coder	$43K	$56K	$71K	$90K	+2.8%
ICU Nurse	$80K	$100K	$124K	$153K	+4%
Surgical Technologist	$46K	$59K	$73K	$92K	+3.5%
Paramedic	$39K	$51K	$66K	$84K	+3.2%
Registered Dietitian	$53K	$69K	$88K	$110K	+3.5%
Optometrist	$114K	$141K	$171K	$214K	+2.8%
Genetic Counselor	$73K	$92K	$112K	$138K	+5.8%

Finance salaries in Charlotte

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Financial Analyst	$75K	$105K	$143K	$198K	+3.6%
Accountant	$61K	$86K	$116K	$154K	+2.2%
Investment Banker	$132K	$198K	$308K	$495K	+3.9%
Actuary	$105K	$138K	$178K	$226K	+5.5%
Financial Advisor	$64K	$105K	$163K	$253K	+3.8%
Portfolio Manager	$127K	$178K	$248K	$352K	+4.2%
Risk Analyst	$75K	$101K	$134K	$174K	+4.5%
Tax Manager	$105K	$141K	$182K	$231K	+3%
Financial Controller	$116K	$154K	$200K	$259K	+3.2%
Chief Financial Officer	$193K	$275K	$396K	$572K	+3.5%
Credit Analyst	$57K	$77K	$101K	$132K	+2.8%
Mortgage Loan Officer	$53K	$79K	$119K	$178K	+2.5%
Compliance Officer	$79K	$108K	$143K	$189K	+4.8%
Hedge Fund Analyst	$127K	$182K	$264K	$418K	+3.5%
Private Equity Analyst	$121K	$174K	$248K	$385K	+4%
Quantitative Analyst	$138K	$189K	$253K	$352K	+6.2%
Bookkeeper	$42K	$53K	$66K	$84K	+1%
Budget Analyst	$68K	$90K	$114K	$143K	+2.5%
Insurance Underwriter	$64K	$86K	$112K	$145K	+2%
Venture Capital Analyst	$105K	$149K	$204K	$286K	+5.5%

Engineering salaries in Charlotte

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Mechanical Engineer	$72K	$96K	$124K	$155K	+2.8%
Petroleum Engineer	$110K	$145K	$188K	$240K	+1.5%
Civil Engineer	$68K	$90K	$118K	$150K	+3.4%
Electrical Engineer	$78K	$105K	$136K	$170K	+3.1%
Chemical Engineer	$80K	$108K	$140K	$178K	+2.5%
Aerospace Engineer	$90K	$122K	$158K	$198K	+3.8%
Industrial Engineer	$72K	$96K	$124K	$158K	+3.5%
Environmental Engineer	$68K	$92K	$120K	$152K	+4.2%
Biomedical Engineer	$72K	$98K	$128K	$162K	+5.2%
Structural Engineer	$70K	$92K	$120K	$152K	+3.2%
Nuclear Engineer	$95K	$125K	$158K	$198K	+2.2%
Materials Engineer	$72K	$98K	$128K	$162K	+3%
Geotechnical Engineer	$68K	$90K	$118K	$150K	+3.5%
Controls Engineer	$78K	$104K	$134K	$168K	+4%
Manufacturing Engineer	$70K	$95K	$122K	$155K	+3.2%
Process Engineer	$72K	$98K	$128K	$162K	+3.5%
Quality Engineer	$65K	$88K	$115K	$148K	+3%

Business salaries in Charlotte

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Marketing Manager	$82K	$116K	$160K	$210K	+3.3%
Human Resources Manager	$79K	$109K	$147K	$189K	+2.9%
Project Manager	$76K	$103K	$139K	$179K	+3.7%
Operations Manager	$71K	$103K	$142K	$189K	+2.5%
Business Analyst	$65K	$89K	$118K	$152K	+3.8%
Management Consultant	$84K	$121K	$170K	$236K	+4.2%
Supply Chain Manager	$82K	$113K	$149K	$191K	+4.5%
Sales Manager	$76K	$110K	$160K	$226K	+3.5%
Account Executive	$58K	$82K	$118K	$170K	+3.8%
Chief Executive Officer	$163K	$247K	$399K	$651K	+3.2%
Chief Operating Officer	$152K	$221K	$336K	$504K	+3%
Chief Marketing Officer	$152K	$221K	$323K	$483K	+3.5%
General Manager	$79K	$113K	$160K	$221K	+2.8%
Logistics Coordinator	$44K	$59K	$76K	$97K	+3.5%
Purchasing Manager	$82K	$113K	$147K	$187K	+2.5%
Digital Marketing Manager	$71K	$100K	$134K	$176K	+5.5%
SEO Specialist	$50K	$68K	$92K	$124K	+5.8%
Content Strategist	$58K	$79K	$105K	$137K	+5.2%
Brand Manager	$76K	$103K	$139K	$181K	+3.5%
Recruiter	$50K	$68K	$92K	$126K	+3.2%
Executive Assistant	$55K	$71K	$92K	$118K	+1.8%
Public Relations Manager	$71K	$100K	$137K	$181K	+3%
Event Planner	$44K	$59K	$79K	$105K	+3.8%

Education salaries in Charlotte

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
K-12 Teacher	$44K	$61K	$80K	$103K	+1.8%
University Professor	$64K	$88K	$127K	$186K	+2.1%
School Principal	$80K	$100K	$123K	$149K	+2.2%
Instructional Designer	$57K	$74K	$96K	$123K	+4.5%
School Counselor	$47K	$61K	$78K	$98K	+3%
Special Education Teacher	$47K	$64K	$82K	$106K	+3.5%
Curriculum Developer	$54K	$71K	$90K	$116K	+3.8%
Education Administrator	$71K	$93K	$120K	$152K	+2.5%
Librarian	$47K	$61K	$78K	$98K	+1.5%
Academic Advisor	$39K	$51K	$67K	$84K	+3%

Legal salaries in Charlotte

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Attorney	$82K	$134K	$218K	$368K	+3.5%
Paralegal	$44K	$59K	$78K	$100K	+3.8%
Corporate Lawyer	$121K	$184K	$294K	$473K	+3.8%
Patent Attorney	$142K	$194K	$260K	$357K	+4.2%
Compliance Lawyer	$105K	$152K	$208K	$278K	+5%
Judge	$100K	$142K	$191K	$252K	+1.5%
Legal Operations Manager	$100K	$137K	$179K	$231K	+6.5%

Construction salaries in Charlotte

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Construction Manager	$80K	$107K	$141K	$184K	+4.5%
Electrician	$53K	$69K	$90K	$117K	+6.2%
Plumber	$53K	$69K	$92K	$120K	+5.5%
HVAC Technician	$49K	$63K	$82K	$104K	+5.8%
Welder	$39K	$51K	$65K	$84K	+3.5%
Carpenter	$43K	$57K	$75K	$97K	+4%
Land Surveyor	$59K	$80K	$104K	$133K	+3.8%
Construction Estimator	$63K	$86K	$112K	$145K	+4.2%

Real Estate salaries in Charlotte

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Real Estate Agent	$38K	$62K	$105K	$180K	+3.5%
Real Estate Broker	$55K	$95K	$162K	$275K	+3.5%
Property Manager	$48K	$65K	$88K	$118K	+3.2%
Real Estate Appraiser	$52K	$72K	$98K	$132K	+2.8%
Commercial Real Estate Analyst	$62K	$88K	$120K	$162K	+4%

Government salaries in Charlotte

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Urban Planner	$59K	$78K	$100K	$127K	+3.8%
Social Worker	$39K	$54K	$71K	$90K	+3.5%
Firefighter	$41K	$57K	$76K	$100K	+2.8%
Police Officer	$47K	$64K	$86K	$113K	+2.5%
Military Officer	$54K	$80K	$113K	$152K	+2%
Public Health Official	$67K	$90K	$118K	$152K	+4.5%
Policy Analyst	$57K	$76K	$100K	$129K	+3.5%
Government Budget Officer	$61K	$80K	$103K	$132K	+2.5%

Science salaries in Charlotte

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Biologist	$55K	$78K	$105K	$140K	+3.5%
Chemist	$58K	$80K	$108K	$142K	+3.2%
Physicist	$78K	$112K	$152K	$200K	+4%
Geologist	$62K	$88K	$118K	$155K	+3.8%
Epidemiologist	$68K	$90K	$118K	$152K	+4.5%
Biochemist	$62K	$88K	$122K	$162K	+4.2%
Environmental Scientist	$55K	$76K	$100K	$132K	+4.8%
Research Scientist	$72K	$98K	$132K	$175K	+4.5%
Pharmaceutical Data Scientist	$105K	$142K	$182K	$228K	+7.5%
Clinical Research Coordinator	$48K	$62K	$80K	$102K	+5.5%
Laboratory Manager	$65K	$88K	$115K	$148K	+3.8%

Creative salaries in Charlotte

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Graphic Designer	$41K	$57K	$76K	$100K	+3%
Art Director	$71K	$98K	$132K	$174K	+2.8%
Video Producer	$47K	$67K	$93K	$132K	+4.2%
Copywriter	$44K	$61K	$83K	$113K	+3.5%
Photographer	$31K	$45K	$67K	$98K	+3%
Animator	$51K	$71K	$96K	$132K	+4.5%
Journalist	$37K	$51K	$71K	$100K	+1.5%
Social Media Manager	$44K	$59K	$80K	$108K	+6.5%
Interior Designer	$41K	$57K	$78K	$106K	+3.2%
Fashion Designer	$47K	$67K	$96K	$142K	+2.5%
Music Producer	$37K	$61K	$103K	$181K	+3.5%
UX Researcher	$80K	$110K	$142K	$181K	+5.5%

Hospitality salaries in Charlotte

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Hotel Manager	$52K	$72K	$98K	$135K	+3.2%
Executive Chef	$52K	$68K	$92K	$128K	+3.8%
Restaurant Manager	$42K	$56K	$74K	$98K	+3.5%
Travel Agent	$35K	$46K	$62K	$85K	+3%
Sommelier	$42K	$58K	$82K	$115K	+3.2%

Retail salaries in Charlotte

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Retail Store Manager	$41K	$57K	$76K	$103K	+2%
Sales Representative	$41K	$61K	$90K	$135K	+3.5%
Retail Buyer	$51K	$71K	$96K	$127K	+2.5%
E-Commerce Manager	$61K	$83K	$113K	$149K	+7.5%
Business Development Manager	$71K	$100K	$137K	$188K	+4.5%

Transportation salaries in Charlotte

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Airline Pilot	$105K	$160K	$235K	$330K	+5.2%
Logistics Manager	$72K	$98K	$130K	$168K	+4.5%
Truck Driver (CDL)	$42K	$52K	$68K	$88K	+4.8%
Transportation Planner	$62K	$82K	$108K	$140K	+4.2%
Fleet Manager	$58K	$78K	$102K	$132K	+4%

Energy salaries in Charlotte

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Energy Engineer	$78K	$105K	$138K	$175K	+6.5%
Solar Installer	$42K	$52K	$68K	$88K	+22%
Wind Turbine Technician	$48K	$60K	$76K	$98K	+45%
Oil & Gas Operations Manager	$110K	$148K	$192K	$248K	+2%
Energy Analyst	$62K	$85K	$112K	$145K	+6%

Nonprofit salaries in Charlotte

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Nonprofit Executive Director	$60K	$82K	$113K	$158K	+3.2%
Grant Writer	$46K	$60K	$77K	$98K	+3.5%
Fundraising Manager	$50K	$67K	$91K	$125K	+3.8%
Case Manager	$36K	$48K	$61K	$79K	+3.5%
Community Outreach Coordinator	$36K	$48K	$62K	$81K	+3.8%

Working in Charlotte, North Carolina: Salary Guide (2026)

Charlotte is home to the Charlotte–NC metropolitan area with a population of 874,579. The city has a cost of living index of 100 (US average = 100), meaning living costs are close to the US average.

North Carolina has a 4.75% state income tax rate. When comparing offers with cities in no-income-tax states like Texas, Washington, or Florida, factor in this difference.

Top-paying industries in Charlotte

Charlotte's economy spans multiple high-wage sectors. The city's diverse employer base creates strong demand across technology, healthcare, finance, and professional services.

View all jobs →