State profile · NCES F-33 FY2023
Teacher Salary in North Carolina
North Carolina's top-to-bottom district pay ratio (1.19x) ranks #47 of 47, lower-third dispersion. According to the NCES Common Core of Data finance survey, estimated teacher pay and per-pupil spending are available for every public school district in North Carolina.
- $49,898
- Est. state avg salary
- -29.0%
- vs national
- #47
- National rank
- 116
- Districts
Well below benchmark
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North Carolina's top-to-bottom district pay ratio (1.19x) ranks #47 of 47, lower-third dispersion. Estimated average teacher salary is $49,898, materially below the national average of $70,245, ranking #47 of 49, across 115 public school districts with reliable data (NCES CCD F-33, FY2023).
- Tight district pay band: North Carolina's top-to-bottom district pay ratio (1.19x) ranks #47 of 47, lower-third dispersion.
- lower third nationally (#47 of 49)
- North Carolina ranks #47 of 49 on the salary estimate and #8 of 49 on enrollment in the same reliable-district pool.
- $8,566 spread between its highest- and lowest-paying districts
- #47 of 47 states for pay dispersion (narrowest decile, 1.19x top/bottom ratio)
- -29.0% vs the national average
- +5.8% estimated-basis panel FY2019→FY2023 (balanced cohort, not the FTE average above)
- #49 of 49 purchasing-power-adjusted (BEA RPP 94.4)
The distinguishing axis
How wide is the district pay spread in North Carolina?
Camden County Schools sits at $53,553 and Hoke County Schools at $44,987 among reliable-salary districts. That 1.19x top-to-bottom ratio ranks #47 of 47 comparable states, in the narrowest decile.
This describes the observed F-33 distribution, not why it exists. The comparison excludes service agencies and states with fewer than five reliable district estimates; see the dispersion method.
North Carolina purchasing-power check on lower-third pay
North Carolina's nominal average teacher salary ranks #47 of the 49 states and territories that report teacher salaries. Adjusted by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis's 2023 Regional Price Parity (94.4, US = 100, a relative state-level price-level index, not a district or metro cost-of-living figure), the estimate becomes $52,810, ranking #49 of 49 , 2 places lower than the nominal rank once relative price levels are factored in. This purchasing-power view is not published by NEA's teacher-pay rankings or the aggregator sites; it comes from combining our own F-33-derived salary estimate with BEA's public RPP series. See the full 51-state release for methodology and download. BEA Regional Price Parities · NCES CCD F-33
North Carolina in the teacher-salary distribution
FY2023 estimated state averages from the same NCES-derived ranking
$49,898 4th percentile higher than 4% of 49 reporting states and territories
Show national distribution
Each bar is a $5K-wide band; taller bars hold more reporting states and territories. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey; state estimates derived from reported instructional-salary expenditure and teacher FTE · FY2023
North Carolina's comparable salary trend
Same reporting-district cohort, FY2019-FY2023
- FY2023 estimated average
- $49,052 5.785139464115771% vs FY2019
- 116 districts held in the panel
Read the chart as text
| Period | North Carolina est. avg teacher salary |
|---|---|
| FY2019 | $46,370 |
| FY2020 | $46,582 |
| FY2021 | $48,784 |
| FY2022 | $49,585 |
| FY2023 | $49,052 |
Highest-paying districts in North Carolina
Estimated average teacher salary, enrolling districts (200+ students)
-
$53,553 Est. avg salary
-
$53,309 Est. avg salary
-
$52,944 Est. avg salary
-
$52,832 Est. avg salary
-
$52,524 Est. avg salary
-
$52,393 Est. avg salary
-
$52,240 Est. avg salary
-
$52,055 Est. avg salary
-
$51,991 Est. avg salary
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$51,947 Est. avg salary
What this shows Camden County Schools leads North Carolina on the F-33 instructional-salary estimate. Service entities (CTCs, county offices) are excluded, their enrollment-based ratios are not reliable salary figures.
Top 3 districts
Districts by Estimated Teacher Salary
| District | Est. Avg Salary | Enrollment | Per-Pupil Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camden County Schools | $53,553 | 1,920 | $13,128 |
| Caswell County Schools | $53,309 | 2,250 | $14,625 |
| Cherokee County Schools | $52,944 | 3,146 | $14,715 |
| Polk County Schools | $52,832 | 2,166 | $16,031 |
| Madison County Schools | $52,524 | 2,108 | $17,770 |
| Yancey County Schools | $52,393 | 2,038 | $15,969 |
| Northampton County Schools | $52,240 | 1,291 | $21,959 |
| Henderson County Schools | $52,055 | 12,896 | $12,223 |
| Gaston County Schools | $51,991 | 30,281 | $12,921 |
| Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools | $51,947 | 11,561 | $18,281 |
| Ashe County Schools | $51,933 | 2,743 | $15,511 |
| Gates County Schools | $51,910 | 1,497 | $16,726 |
| Buncombe County Schools | $51,898 | 22,091 | $15,530 |
| Carteret County Public Schools | $51,891 | 8,081 | $15,366 |
| Catawba County Schools | $51,849 | 15,678 | $13,023 |
| Haywood County Schools | $51,811 | 6,605 | $13,673 |
| Elkin City Schools | $51,779 | 1,239 | $14,038 |
| Burke County Schools | $51,690 | 11,770 | $13,067 |
| Chatham County Schools | $51,526 | 9,129 | $16,085 |
| Macon County Schools | $51,480 | 4,450 | $14,453 |
| McDowell County Schools | $51,445 | 5,776 | $14,088 |
| Edenton-Chowan Schools | $51,374 | 1,917 | $16,179 |
| Mitchell County Schools | $51,151 | 1,722 | $18,207 |
| Surry County Schools | $51,122 | 7,340 | $13,120 |
| Lincoln County Schools | $51,117 | 11,629 | $11,678 |
| Orange County Schools | $51,098 | 7,208 | $16,356 |
| Warren County Schools | $51,084 | 1,801 | $18,169 |
| Transylvania County Schools | $51,066 | 3,312 | $14,715 |
| Caldwell County Schools | $51,029 | 10,758 | $13,003 |
| Hyde County Schools | $50,970 | 475 | $39,566 |
| Alexander County Schools | $50,942 | 4,525 | $13,661 |
| New Hanover County Schools | $50,896 | 25,244 | $14,600 |
| Perquimans County Schools | $50,855 | 1,665 | $15,333 |
| Clay County Schools | $50,845 | 1,314 | $14,933 |
| Davie County Schools | $50,753 | 6,114 | $13,196 |
| Mount Airy City Schools | $50,681 | 1,726 | $13,948 |
| Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | $50,646 | 144,197 | $16,641 |
| Pender County Schools | $50,592 | 10,941 | $12,058 |
| Union County Public Schools | $50,588 | 41,497 | $12,330 |
| Asheville City Schools | $50,581 | 4,137 | $17,788 |
| Stokes County Schools | $50,537 | 5,606 | $13,697 |
| Cleveland County Schools | $50,407 | 14,406 | $15,089 |
| Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools | $50,401 | 52,717 | $15,007 |
| Watauga County Schools | $50,372 | 4,754 | $13,927 |
| Wake County Schools | $50,350 | 159,778 | $13,702 |
| Graham County Schools | $50,342 | 1,141 | $18,184 |
| Roanoke Rapids City Schools | $50,328 | 2,765 | $13,425 |
| Yadkin County Schools | $50,298 | 5,243 | $12,901 |
| Brunswick County Schools | $50,217 | 12,944 | $14,919 |
| Alleghany County Schools | $50,153 | 1,421 | $16,125 |
| Davidson County Schools | $50,140 | 17,964 | $11,805 |
| Washington County Schools | $50,102 | 1,104 | $21,504 |
| Clinton City Schools | $50,099 | 3,051 | $12,713 |
| Swain County Schools | $50,070 | 1,910 | $15,641 |
| Mooresville Graded School District | $50,039 | 5,971 | $17,909 |
| Dare County Schools | $50,012 | 5,181 | $14,633 |
| Avery County Schools | $50,003 | 1,904 | $16,481 |
| Currituck County Schools | $49,996 | 4,514 | $16,713 |
| Iredell-Statesville Schools | $49,953 | 20,721 | $12,715 |
| Person County Schools | $49,913 | 4,374 | $15,315 |
| Sampson County Schools | $49,848 | 7,971 | $13,261 |
| Wilkes County Schools | $49,740 | 8,673 | $13,957 |
| Halifax County Schools | $49,687 | 2,173 | $18,682 |
| Wayne County Public Schools | $49,683 | 17,558 | $11,992 |
| Jones County Schools | $49,611 | 1,067 | $19,099 |
| Moore County Schools | $49,535 | 13,008 | $12,301 |
| Wilson County Schools | $49,522 | 10,276 | $14,206 |
| Cabarrus County Schools | $49,503 | 34,810 | $12,528 |
| Scotland County Schools | $49,417 | 5,624 | $14,157 |
| Johnston County Public Schools | $49,416 | 37,286 | $12,288 |
| Stanly County Schools | $49,405 | 8,643 | $11,370 |
| Asheboro City Schools | $49,386 | 4,383 | $13,898 |
| Guilford County Schools | $49,373 | 68,894 | $14,585 |
| Montgomery County Schools | $49,356 | 3,663 | $14,488 |
| Newton Conover City Schools | $49,339 | 2,856 | $13,629 |
| Jackson County Public Schools | $49,292 | 3,557 | $14,273 |
| Whiteville City Schools | $49,280 | 2,104 | $15,620 |
| Pamlico County Schools | $49,241 | 1,244 | $18,479 |
| Beaufort County Schools | $49,239 | 5,975 | $14,671 |
| Rockingham County Schools | $49,175 | 11,189 | $14,151 |
| Durham Public Schools | $49,130 | 31,531 | $19,050 |
| Randolph County School System | $49,107 | 15,383 | $12,091 |
| Martin County Schools | $49,080 | 2,636 | $16,111 |
| Bladen County Schools | $49,070 | 3,983 | $23,753 |
| Hertford County Schools | $49,043 | 2,486 | $17,614 |
| Rutherford County Schools | $49,025 | 7,527 | $15,437 |
| Granville County Schools | $49,005 | 6,748 | $13,752 |
| Richmond County Schools | $49,004 | 6,678 | $13,632 |
| Nash County Public Schools | $48,931 | 14,469 | $12,742 |
| Greene County Schools | $48,929 | 2,668 | $16,952 |
| Alamance-Burlington Schools | $48,691 | 22,489 | $14,730 |
| Tyrrell County Schools | $48,657 | 499 | $24,567 |
| Cumberland County Schools | $48,573 | 49,661 | $13,291 |
| Vance County Schools | $48,519 | 5,269 | $16,568 |
| Columbus County Schools | $48,372 | 5,335 | $15,344 |
| Bertie County Schools | $48,359 | 1,831 | $17,611 |
| Kannapolis City Schools | $48,357 | 5,390 | $13,234 |
| Rowan-Salisbury Schools | $48,351 | 18,225 | $12,992 |
| Pitt County Schools | $48,336 | 24,091 | $13,389 |
| Craven County Schools | $48,245 | 12,755 | $13,172 |
Showing 1–100 of 115 enrolling districts. Specialized non-enrolling agencies (career/technical centers, county offices, service co-ops) are excluded from the salary ranking, their enrollment-based estimates are not reliable.
Lowest-Paying Districts in North Carolina
| District | Est. Avg Salary | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|
| Hoke County Schools | $44,987 | 8,920 |
| Anson County Schools | $46,048 | 2,964 |
| Edgecombe County Public Schools | $46,132 | 5,419 |
| Onslow County Schools | $46,776 | 27,921 |
| Harnett County Schools | $46,955 | 20,050 |
| Lexington City Schools | $47,066 | 2,999 |
| Weldon City Schools | $47,403 | 659 |
| Lenoir County Public Schools | $47,409 | 8,334 |
| Thomasville City Schools | $47,473 | 2,228 |
| Hickory City Schools | $47,816 | 3,877 |
Among enrolling districts (200+ students) with a reliable estimate; service entities excluded, see methodology.
Nationwide peers near North Carolina's large K-12 scale
Two nationwide peer sets for North Carolina: closest on estimated average teacher salary ($49,898 here) and closest on total student enrollment (1,400,794 here). Link sets are deduped so each column is a distinct comparison path, not geographic containment.
Similar estimated salary
Nearest other states by unweighted district-mean teacher pay (F-33 derived, ≥5 districts with reliable estimates).
Similar enrollment
Nearest other states by NCES-reported K-12 enrollment. Salary peers above are excluded.
Compare Nearby-Ranked States
Data: NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey + Staff Universe Survey, FY2023. Salary figures divide instructional expenditure (variable Z33) by each district's reported teacher FTE, or an estimated FTE for the small minority with no reported figure. Not individual salary data. Read our methodology.
North Carolina teacher salary FAQ
What is the average teacher salary in North Carolina?
Across 115 North Carolina public school districts with reliable data, the average teacher salary is $49,898 (NCES CCD F-33 reported teacher salaries divided by CCD Staff Universe Survey teacher headcounts, FY2023). It is a district-level mean derived from finance filings, so it will not match a contract-salary survey exactly, read it as a relative comparison.
Which North Carolina school district pays teachers the most?
Camden County Schools reports the highest average teacher salary in North Carolina at $53,553, while Hoke County Schools sits at the lower end at $44,987.
How does North Carolina teacher pay compare to the national average?
North Carolina's average of $49,898 is materially below the national average of $70,245 (-29.0%), ranking #47 of the 49 jurisdictions with a reliable district estimate.
How many school districts are in North Carolina?
North Carolina has 116 public school districts in the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey, together serving 1,400,794 students.
How much do teachers make in North Carolina?
District-average teacher pay in North Carolina sits in a comparatively narrow band, from $44,987 in Hoke County Schools to $53,553 in Camden County Schools. With that little district-to-district spread the statewide figure is a reasonable guide to what most districts pay. These are district-wide averages from NCES CCD F-33 (FY2023), not individual salaries or pay-scale steps.
Can teachers earn $100,000 in North Carolina?
No North Carolina district with reliable data reports an estimated average teacher salary at or above $100,000; the state's highest is Camden County Schools at $53,553. This is a district-wide average, not an individual salary, step, or years-of-experience figure.
How does North Carolina rank after adjusting for cost of living?
Within the separate enrollment-weighted state comparison, BEA's 2023 Regional Price Parity (94.4, US=100) adjusts North Carolina's nominal estimate of $49,852 from #48 to $52,810 and #49. The headline uses an unweighted district mean, so this does not replace it. Neither measure is take-home pay, taxes, or district/metro cost of living.
Explore North Carolina
Disclaimer & data sources
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainTeacher for North Carolina
| Publisher | PlainTeacher |
| Sources | Public official public datasets |