2026 reference

North Carolina salary, ages 45-49

Based on U.S. Census ACS 1-year 2024 PUMS · full-time, year-round wage earners

ages 45-49 is the peak-earning age band in North Carolina, with a median salary of $65,991. The average is about $90,656, and the top 10% earn at least $177,669.

What is the median salary for ages 45-49 workers in North Carolina, and how does it rank?
About $65,991 — #37 of 51 states (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 1-year PUMS).
How does North Carolina compare to the top-paying state for ages 45-49?
The highest is Washington, D.C. (median $126,686); North Carolina is $65,991.
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 45-49 in North Carolina?
The average sits above the $65,991 median, so pay skews high — the top and bottom 10% are about 5.8× apart.
What do the top 10% / 25% earn at ages 45-49 in North Carolina?
Top 10% earn at least $177,669; top 25% at least $104,571.
What do the bottom 10% / 25% earn at ages 45-49 in North Carolina?
Bottom 10% earn at most $30,458; bottom 25% at most $42,641.

ages 45-49 is the peak-earning age band in North Carolina, with a median salary of $65,991. The $90,656 average runs well above the $65,991 median, reflecting a high-earning tail — the top 10% reach $177,669 and the top 25% $104,571, while the bottom 25% and 10% sit at $42,641 and $30,458. Monthly pay is about $5,499, hourly wage about $31.73. U.S. Census ACS 1-year 2024 PUMS · full-time, year-round wage earners, released 2025-10-16.

Distribution within this group

Longer bar means higher earnings

Per month, per hour

Based on a typical (median) earner

Where does your salary land here?

Tell us your birth year — we'll show you in 30 seconds

Check now

At a glance

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).

OccupationMedian pay
Computer and Mathematical$126,906
Architecture and Engineering$122,908
Management$111,678
Legal$98,353
Business and Financial Operations$91,373
Life, Physical, and Social Science$91,373

About this page

This page covers the salary distribution of full-time ages 45-49 wage and salary earners in North Carolina, U.S. The median is $65,991 — #37 of 51 states — and the average is $90,656. 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 45-49 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 $65,991 and the 10th–90th percentile range runs $30,458–$177,669; the upper and lower percentiles come from rank statistics on the same sample. Self-employment and irregular income are excluded.

Data Sources
U.S. Census ACS 1-year 2024 PUMS (state · age weighted distribution)
https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/microdata/access.html
See where your salary stands