StateRates

Burlington salaries

The median worker in the Burlington, NC metro area earned $40,980 a year in 2024, about $19.70 an hour. That ranks #343 of the 391 metro areas published here, 17.2% below the national median.

North Carolina

Median pay $40,980 $19.70 per hour
Vs national -17.2% U.S. $49,500
Workers 68,010 wage and salary
Metro rank #343 of 391 by median pay

What this labour market looks like

Burlington pays 12.7% less than North Carolina as a whole. Metros usually run ahead of their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and the gap is a rough measure of how much of a state's economy sits in its cities.

Unusually concentrated here

Occupations against their national share, 2024
Occupation Concentration Employed Median
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians 12.09× 1,830 $49,210
Cooks, Fast Food 5.94× 1,750 $26,660
Packers and Packagers, Hand 2.74× 730 $32,220
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers 2.01× 520 $35,710
Nursing Assistants 1.85× 1,130 $40,580
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers 1.76× 530 $61,920
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators 1.7× 600 $45,550
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand 1.63× 2,150 $35,190
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants 1.45× 530 $39,850
Cashiers 1.42× 1,980 $27,260
Retail Salespersons 1.41× 2,370 $28,300
Stockers and Order Fillers 1.39× 1,710 $34,960

Best paid occupations

Highest median pay in Burlington
Occupation Median Hourly Employed
Software Developers $114,510 $55.06 260
Computer Systems Analysts $110,600 $53.18 220
Medical and Health Services Managers $105,930 $50.93 250
General and Operations Managers $94,050 $45.22 950
Registered Nurses $87,110 $41.88 1,070
Project Management Specialists $80,820 $38.86 240
Accountants and Auditors $75,640 $36.37 420
Business Operations Specialists, All Other $70,830 $34.05 260
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers $69,000 $33.17 250
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $67,550 $32.48 350
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $67,160 $32.29 340
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $65,440 $31.46 340
Human Resources Specialists $63,270 $30.42 260
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $61,920 $29.77 530
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products $60,800 $29.23 580
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel $60,620 $29.14 400
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers $60,110 $28.90 540
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors $55,400 $26.64 310
Computer User Support Specialists $52,670 $25.32 230
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers $51,190 $24.61 250
Insurance Sales Agents $51,100 $24.57 310
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $49,920 n/a 390
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians $49,210 $23.66 1,830
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $49,190 $23.65 840
Machinists $49,000 $23.56 230
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $48,740 $23.43 240
Industrial Machinery Mechanics $48,270 $23.21 340
Electricians $48,230 $23.19 290
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $48,130 $23.14 330
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education $47,750 n/a 700
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics $46,870 $22.53 360
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers $46,040 $22.14 660
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General $46,010 $22.12 620
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators $45,550 $21.90 600
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks $44,810 $21.54 220
Medical Assistants $43,980 $21.14 320
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks $43,900 $21.11 610
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive $42,640 $20.50 760
Phlebotomists $42,440 $20.40 290
Nursing Assistants $40,580 $19.51 1,130
Training and Development Specialists $40,400 $19.42 250
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants $39,850 $19.16 530
Construction Laborers $39,720 $19.10 380
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $39,520 $19.00 300
Customer Service Representatives $39,450 $18.97 1,450
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks $39,160 $18.83 410
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $39,100 $18.80 660
Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers $38,070 $18.30 370
Office Clerks, General $37,440 $18.00 840
Light Truck Drivers $36,980 $17.78 570
Firefighters $36,780 $17.68 200
Pharmacy Technicians $36,650 $17.62 230
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $36,500 $17.55 870
Receptionists and Information Clerks $36,480 $17.54 370
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers $35,820 $17.22 440
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $35,710 $17.17 520
Couriers and Messengers $35,520 $17.08 350
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand $35,190 $16.92 2,150
Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $35,010 $16.83 310
Stockers and Order Fillers $34,960 $16.81 1,710

Where most people work

Largest occupations in Burlington by employment
Occupation Employed Median Hourly
Retail Salespersons 2,370 $28,300 $13.61
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand 2,150 $35,190 $16.92
Cashiers 1,980 $27,260 $13.10
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians 1,830 $49,210 $23.66
Cooks, Fast Food 1,750 $26,660 $12.82
Stockers and Order Fillers 1,710 $34,960 $16.81
Fast Food and Counter Workers 1,460 $28,110 $13.52
Customer Service Representatives 1,450 $39,450 $18.97
Waiters and Waitresses 1,190 $23,420 $11.26
Nursing Assistants 1,130 $40,580 $19.51
Registered Nurses 1,070 $87,110 $41.88
General and Operations Managers 950 $94,050 $45.22
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators 870 $36,500 $17.55
Office Clerks, General 840 $37,440 $18.00
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 840 $49,190 $23.65
Home Health and Personal Care Aides 830 $28,590 $13.74
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners 820 $33,860 $16.28
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive 760 $42,640 $20.50
Cooks, Restaurant 750 $34,110 $16.40
Packers and Packagers, Hand 730 $32,220 $15.49

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 state estimates. Wage and salary workers only, excluding the self-employed.

Other North Carolina metro areas

Burlington pay: common questions

What is the average salary in Burlington?

The median across all occupations is $40,980, or $19.70 an hour, covering 68,010 wage and salary workers. The mean is $51,470, higher because a small number of very large salaries pull an average upward.

Does Burlington pay more than the rest of North Carolina?

No. The metro median of $40,980 is 12.7% below the North Carolina median of $46,950. Metropolitan areas usually pay more than their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and usually cost more to live in for the same reason.

Which jobs pay best in Burlington?

Software Developers ($114,510), Computer Systems Analysts ($110,600), Medical and Health Services Managers ($105,930). Medical specialities top nearly every metro list, which reflects how the occupations are classified more than local conditions.

What is Burlington unusually full of?

Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians, at 12.09× the national concentration. Location quotient is a better description of a local economy than its biggest employers, which are retail and food service almost everywhere.