State salary database: Where does your job rank?

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Posted 10:00 a.m. Jul 18, 2015 — Updated 10:00 a.m. Jul 18, 2015

RALEIGH, N.C. — More than 4 million people are employed in North Carolina, with the average worker earning $20.81 per hour, or $43,280 per year, according to the latest data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Nationwide, more than 135 million people are employed and earn an average of $22.71 an hour, or $47,230 a year.

The most recent data, from May 2014, comes from the Occupational Employment Statistics program, which produces the employment and wage estimates based on semi-annual mail surveys.

How does your job rank? View a state-by-state comparison of the salaries of more than 800 occupations, and see the highest and lowest paying jobs in North Carolina.

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Jobs with the largest employment were retail salespersons and cashiers, which combined, made up nearly 6 percent of total U.S. employment, with employment levels of 4.6 million and 3.4 million, respectively. Of the 10 largest occupations, only registered nurses, with an annual average wage of $69,790, had an average wage above the U.S. all- occupations average of $47,230.
Most of the largest occupations were relatively low paying. Excluding registered nurses, annual average wages for the rest of the 10 largest occupations in the U.S. ranged from $19,110 for combined food preparation and serving workers to $34,500 for secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive.
Combined food preparation and serving workers also was one of the lowest paying occupations overall in the nation, along with fast food cooks ($19,030), shampooers ($19,480), and dishwashers ($19,540).
The highest paying occupational groups were management, legal, and computer and mathematical occupations. The lowest paying occupational groups included food preparation and serving related; personal care and service; and farming, fishing, and forestry occupations, each with an annual mean wage of about $25,000 or less.
Overall, the private sector accounted for about 84 percent of employment in the U.S. but made up a higher share of employment in some occupations. Occupations found only in the private sector included flight attendants, oil and gas roustabouts, funeral attendants, and a number of production occupations, such as semiconductor processors and tire builders.
The largest occupations in state government in the U.S. were correctional officers and jailers; general office clerks; and secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive. Registered nurses, management analysts, and compliance officers were among the largest occupations in federal government.

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