North Carolina salary, ages 20-24
Based on U.S. Census ACS 1-year 2024 PUMS · full-time, year-round wage earners
In North Carolina, full-time ages 20-24 workers earn a median of $31,932, ranking #48 of 51 — toward the lower end nationally. The average is about $36,363, and the top 10% earn at least $60,915.
- What is the median salary for ages 20-24 workers in North Carolina, and how does it rank?
- About $31,932 — #48 of 51 states (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 1-year PUMS).
- How does North Carolina compare to the top-paying state for ages 20-24?
- The highest is Washington, D.C. (median $55,839); North Carolina is $31,932.
- Which age group earns the most in North Carolina?
- ages 40-44, with a median of about $65,991.
- Is pay spread out for ages 20-24 in North Carolina?
- Fairly even — the top 10% earn about 3.5× the bottom 10%.
- What do the top 10% / 25% earn at ages 20-24 in North Carolina?
- Top 10% earn at least $60,915; top 25% at least $43,859.
- What do the bottom 10% / 25% earn at ages 20-24 in North Carolina?
- Bottom 10% earn at most $17,259; bottom 25% at most $24,366.
In North Carolina, full-time ages 20-24 workers earn a median of $31,932, ranking #48 of 51 — toward the lower end nationally. The top 10% earn at least $60,915 and the top 25% at least $43,859; the bottom 25% earn at most $24,366 and the bottom 10% at most $17,259. The average is $36,363. Monthly pay is about $2,661, hourly wage about $15.35. U.S. Census ACS 1-year 2024 PUMS · full-time, year-round wage earners, released 2025-10-16.
Per month, per hour
Based on a typical (median) earner
- Monthly$2,661
- Hourly$15.4
- Take-home monthly$2,252
Where does your salary land here?
Tell us your birth year — we'll show you in 30 seconds
At a glance
- Ranks #48 of 51 states for ages 20-24
- 31% higher than the next-older cohort
- 37% lower than the next-younger cohort
- Highest in this age group: Washington, D.C. ({value})
- Top 10% earn 3.5x more than the bottom 10%
- $50K is in the top 19.6% for this age group
- Pay peaks at ages 40-44; this cohort is at 48% of that peak
Top-paying occupations at this age
Ranked by median pay for this state and age group (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 1-year PUMS; low-sample occupations excluded).
| Occupation | Median pay |
|---|---|
| Architecture and Engineering | $68,323 |
| Computer and Mathematical | $50,763 |
| Business and Financial Operations | $45,720 |
| Protective Service | $45,537 |
| Healthcare Practitioners and Technical | $42,111 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science | $40,610 |
About this page
This page covers the salary distribution of full-time ages 20-24 wage and salary earners in North Carolina, U.S. The median is $31,932 — #48 of 51 states — and the average is $36,363. In North Carolina, the peak-earning age band is ages 40-44 (median $65,991). Figures are aggregated from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 1-year PUMS microdata in five-year age bands.
How we calculated
Figures for North Carolina ages 20-24 are tabulated from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 1-year PUMS microdata, restricted to full-time, year-round wage and salary earners and grouped into five-year age bands. On this page the median is $31,932 and the 10th–90th percentile range runs $17,259–$60,915; the upper and lower percentiles come from rank statistics on the same sample. Self-employment and irregular income are excluded.
- U.S. Census ACS 1-year 2024 PUMS (state · age weighted distribution)
- https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/microdata/access.html