North CarolinaCOL index: 85

Salaries in Winston-Salem, NC

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

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Population

247,945

COL index

85 / 100

Avg 1BR rent

$1,100/mo

State income tax

4.75%

Technology salaries in Winston-Salem

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 Winston-Salem

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Registered Nurse	$65K	$82K	$104K	$130K	+3.5%
Physician Assistant	$108K	$130K	$155K	$185K	+4.8%
Physical Therapist	$75K	$95K	$115K	$140K	+3.2%
Healthcare Administrator	$72K	$104K	$140K	$185K	+4.1%
Nurse Practitioner	$100K	$121K	$145K	$175K	+5.2%
Pharmacist	$118K	$132K	$148K	$165K	+1.2%
Medical Doctor	$195K	$248K	$320K	$420K	+2.8%
Dentist	$148K	$180K	$225K	$290K	+2.5%
Occupational Therapist	$72K	$90K	$110K	$132K	+3.8%
Radiologist	$290K	$380K	$470K	$560K	+2.2%
Surgeon	$280K	$380K	$500K	$650K	+2.5%
Anesthesiologist	$300K	$390K	$480K	$580K	+2.1%
Medical Lab Technician	$42K	$56K	$72K	$90K	+3.2%
Respiratory Therapist	$58K	$72K	$90K	$112K	+3.8%
Speech-Language Pathologist	$68K	$85K	$105K	$128K	+4.2%
Clinical Psychologist	$72K	$95K	$125K	$162K	+3.5%
Psychiatrist	$195K	$248K	$310K	$400K	+3.8%
Medical Coder	$42K	$55K	$70K	$88K	+2.8%
ICU Nurse	$78K	$98K	$122K	$150K	+4%
Surgical Technologist	$45K	$58K	$72K	$90K	+3.5%
Paramedic	$38K	$50K	$65K	$82K	+3.2%
Registered Dietitian	$52K	$68K	$86K	$108K	+3.5%
Optometrist	$112K	$138K	$168K	$210K	+2.8%
Genetic Counselor	$72K	$90K	$110K	$135K	+5.8%

Finance salaries in Winston-Salem

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Financial Analyst	$68K	$95K	$130K	$180K	+3.6%
Accountant	$55K	$78K	$105K	$140K	+2.2%
Investment Banker	$120K	$180K	$280K	$450K	+3.9%
Actuary	$95K	$125K	$162K	$205K	+5.5%
Financial Advisor	$58K	$95K	$148K	$230K	+3.8%
Portfolio Manager	$115K	$162K	$225K	$320K	+4.2%
Risk Analyst	$68K	$92K	$122K	$158K	+4.5%
Tax Manager	$95K	$128K	$165K	$210K	+3%
Financial Controller	$105K	$140K	$182K	$235K	+3.2%
Chief Financial Officer	$175K	$250K	$360K	$520K	+3.5%
Credit Analyst	$52K	$70K	$92K	$120K	+2.8%
Mortgage Loan Officer	$48K	$72K	$108K	$162K	+2.5%
Compliance Officer	$72K	$98K	$130K	$172K	+4.8%
Hedge Fund Analyst	$115K	$165K	$240K	$380K	+3.5%
Private Equity Analyst	$110K	$158K	$225K	$350K	+4%
Quantitative Analyst	$125K	$172K	$230K	$320K	+6.2%
Bookkeeper	$38K	$48K	$60K	$76K	+1%
Budget Analyst	$62K	$82K	$104K	$130K	+2.5%
Insurance Underwriter	$58K	$78K	$102K	$132K	+2%
Venture Capital Analyst	$95K	$135K	$185K	$260K	+5.5%

Engineering salaries in Winston-Salem

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 Winston-Salem

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Marketing Manager	$78K	$110K	$152K	$200K	+3.3%
Human Resources Manager	$75K	$104K	$140K	$180K	+2.9%
Project Manager	$72K	$98K	$132K	$170K	+3.7%
Operations Manager	$68K	$98K	$135K	$180K	+2.5%
Business Analyst	$62K	$85K	$112K	$145K	+3.8%
Management Consultant	$80K	$115K	$162K	$225K	+4.2%
Supply Chain Manager	$78K	$108K	$142K	$182K	+4.5%
Sales Manager	$72K	$105K	$152K	$215K	+3.5%
Account Executive	$55K	$78K	$112K	$162K	+3.8%
Chief Executive Officer	$155K	$235K	$380K	$620K	+3.2%
Chief Operating Officer	$145K	$210K	$320K	$480K	+3%
Chief Marketing Officer	$145K	$210K	$308K	$460K	+3.5%
General Manager	$75K	$108K	$152K	$210K	+2.8%
Logistics Coordinator	$42K	$56K	$72K	$92K	+3.5%
Purchasing Manager	$78K	$108K	$140K	$178K	+2.5%
Digital Marketing Manager	$68K	$95K	$128K	$168K	+5.5%
SEO Specialist	$48K	$65K	$88K	$118K	+5.8%
Content Strategist	$55K	$75K	$100K	$130K	+5.2%
Brand Manager	$72K	$98K	$132K	$172K	+3.5%
Recruiter	$48K	$65K	$88K	$120K	+3.2%
Executive Assistant	$52K	$68K	$88K	$112K	+1.8%
Public Relations Manager	$68K	$95K	$130K	$172K	+3%
Event Planner	$42K	$56K	$75K	$100K	+3.8%

Education salaries in Winston-Salem

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
K-12 Teacher	$45K	$62K	$82K	$105K	+1.8%
University Professor	$65K	$90K	$130K	$190K	+2.1%
School Principal	$82K	$102K	$125K	$152K	+2.2%
Instructional Designer	$58K	$76K	$98K	$125K	+4.5%
School Counselor	$48K	$62K	$80K	$100K	+3%
Special Education Teacher	$48K	$65K	$84K	$108K	+3.5%
Curriculum Developer	$55K	$72K	$92K	$118K	+3.8%
Education Administrator	$72K	$95K	$122K	$155K	+2.5%
Librarian	$48K	$62K	$80K	$100K	+1.5%
Academic Advisor	$40K	$52K	$68K	$86K	+3%

Legal salaries in Winston-Salem

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Attorney	$78K	$128K	$208K	$350K	+3.5%
Paralegal	$42K	$56K	$74K	$95K	+3.8%
Corporate Lawyer	$115K	$175K	$280K	$450K	+3.8%
Patent Attorney	$135K	$185K	$248K	$340K	+4.2%
Compliance Lawyer	$100K	$145K	$198K	$265K	+5%
Judge	$95K	$135K	$182K	$240K	+1.5%
Legal Operations Manager	$95K	$130K	$170K	$220K	+6.5%

Construction salaries in Winston-Salem

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Construction Manager	$78K	$105K	$138K	$180K	+4.5%
Electrician	$52K	$68K	$88K	$115K	+6.2%
Plumber	$52K	$68K	$90K	$118K	+5.5%
HVAC Technician	$48K	$62K	$80K	$102K	+5.8%
Welder	$38K	$50K	$64K	$82K	+3.5%
Carpenter	$42K	$56K	$74K	$95K	+4%
Land Surveyor	$58K	$78K	$102K	$130K	+3.8%
Construction Estimator	$62K	$84K	$110K	$142K	+4.2%

Real Estate salaries in Winston-Salem

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 Winston-Salem

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Urban Planner	$60K	$80K	$102K	$130K	+3.8%
Social Worker	$40K	$55K	$72K	$92K	+3.5%
Firefighter	$42K	$58K	$78K	$102K	+2.8%
Police Officer	$48K	$65K	$88K	$115K	+2.5%
Military Officer	$55K	$82K	$115K	$155K	+2%
Public Health Official	$68K	$92K	$120K	$155K	+4.5%
Policy Analyst	$58K	$78K	$102K	$132K	+3.5%
Government Budget Officer	$62K	$82K	$105K	$135K	+2.5%

Science salaries in Winston-Salem

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 Winston-Salem

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Graphic Designer	$42K	$58K	$78K	$102K	+3%
Art Director	$72K	$100K	$135K	$178K	+2.8%
Video Producer	$48K	$68K	$95K	$135K	+4.2%
Copywriter	$45K	$62K	$85K	$115K	+3.5%
Photographer	$32K	$46K	$68K	$100K	+3%
Animator	$52K	$72K	$98K	$135K	+4.5%
Journalist	$38K	$52K	$72K	$102K	+1.5%
Social Media Manager	$45K	$60K	$82K	$110K	+6.5%
Interior Designer	$42K	$58K	$80K	$108K	+3.2%
Fashion Designer	$48K	$68K	$98K	$145K	+2.5%
Music Producer	$38K	$62K	$105K	$185K	+3.5%
UX Researcher	$82K	$112K	$145K	$185K	+5.5%

Hospitality salaries in Winston-Salem

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 Winston-Salem

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Retail Store Manager	$42K	$58K	$78K	$105K	+2%
Sales Representative	$42K	$62K	$92K	$138K	+3.5%
Retail Buyer	$52K	$72K	$98K	$130K	+2.5%
E-Commerce Manager	$62K	$85K	$115K	$152K	+7.5%
Business Development Manager	$72K	$102K	$140K	$192K	+4.5%

Transportation salaries in Winston-Salem

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 Winston-Salem

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 Winston-Salem

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Nonprofit Executive Director	$62K	$85K	$118K	$165K	+3.2%
Grant Writer	$48K	$62K	$80K	$102K	+3.5%
Fundraising Manager	$52K	$70K	$95K	$130K	+3.8%
Case Manager	$38K	$50K	$64K	$82K	+3.5%
Community Outreach Coordinator	$38K	$50K	$65K	$84K	+3.8%

Working in Winston-Salem, North Carolina: Salary Guide (2026)

Winston-Salem is home to the Winston-Salem–NC metropolitan area with a population of 247,945. The city has a cost of living index of 85 (US average = 100), meaning salaries go approximately 15% further here than in an average US city.

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 Winston-Salem

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

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