Lawyers Salary in North Carolina
In North Carolina, lawyers earn a median $127,710 a year, well below the national median of $159,670 (−20%); the state ranks 29th of 51 states by median. Lawyers earn 2.7 times the median across all occupations in North Carolina ($47,970). Among neighbouring states, Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia pay more (up to $167,210 in Virginia) and South Carolina pays less (down to $120,310 in South Carolina). North Carolina employs 17,000 lawyers, 3.44 per 1,000 jobs, the 13th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.71 means it is less common in North Carolina than nationally.
North Carolina vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| North Carolina | Hourly | $29.62 | $39.53 | $61.40 | $101.02 | $155.63 | $77.09 | 17,000 | 3.44 | 0.71 |
| Annual | $61,610 | $82,220 | $127,710 | $210,130 | $323,720 | $160,340 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $37.67 | $49.51 | $76.76 | $106.43 | $169.04 | $89.35 | 754,500 | – | – |
| Annual | $78,360 | $102,990 | $159,670 | $221,370 | $351,600 | $185,840 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 29th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 13th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.71
- Jobs per 1,000
- 3.44
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of North Carolina's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in North Carolina
16 metropolitan areas and 3 nonmetropolitan areas touching North Carolina publish a row for lawyers, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $75.57 | $157,180 | $61,830 | $371,170 | 5,380 | 3.96 | 0.82 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $64.13 | $133,380 | $75,690 | $313,680 | 2,280 | 2.99 | 0.62 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $63.84 | $132,790 | $61,390 | $333,510 | 1,220 | 3.54 | 0.73 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $63.42 | $131,920 | $79,550 | $331,770 | 4,350 | 5.86 | 1.21 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $61.04 | $126,960 | $70,110 | $310,190 | 980 | 2.69 | 0.55 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $60.70 | $126,250 | $45,010 | $317,580 | 830 | 3.04 | 0.63 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $54.80 | $113,980 | $60,970 | $289,550 | 70 | 1.63 | 0.34 |
| Wilmington, NC | $52.70 | $109,620 | $65,100 | $302,470 | 480 | 2.52 | 0.52 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $51.90 | $107,950 | $64,990 | $223,080 | 320 | 2.43 | 0.50 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $50.73 | $105,510 | $61,060 | $195,610 | 80 | 1.94 | 0.40 |
| Asheville, NC | $50.71 | $105,480 | $67,270 | $227,540 | 470 | 2.63 | 0.54 |
| Burlington, NC | $49.10 | $102,120 | $49,710 | $212,790 | 100 | 1.45 | 0.30 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $47.80 | $99,420 | $46,290 | $209,600 | 100 | 1.81 | 0.37 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $46.80 | $97,330 | $59,990 | $316,020 | 270 | 1.74 | 0.36 |
| Greenville, NC | $39.84 | $82,880 | $42,520 | $214,000 | 220 | 2.66 | 0.55 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $39.26 | $81,660 | $39,790 | $170,890 | 170 | 3.15 | 0.65 |
| Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $49.98 | $103,960 | $64,780 | $204,920 | 560 | 2.13 | 0.44 |
| Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $48.10 | $100,060 | $37,490 | $167,330 | 340 | 1.44 | 0.30 |
| Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $46.97 | $97,690 | $61,410 | $192,540 | 490 | 1.93 | 0.40 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | $61.40 | $127,710 | 17,000 | 0.71 |
| Georgia | $64.82 | $134,830 | 23,930 | 1.01 |
| South Carolina | $57.84 | $120,310 | 7,890 | 0.71 |
| Tennessee | $65.47 | $136,180 | 9,010 | 0.57 |
| Virginia | $80.39 | $167,210 | 18,580 | 0.93 |
See the national page for Lawyers (every state ranked) and the North Carolina wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS North Carolina estimates.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.