State profile · NCES F-33 FY2022
Teacher Salary in North Carolina
According to the NCES Common Core of Data finance survey, estimated teacher pay and per-pupil spending are available across 116 public school districts in North Carolina.
- $76,187
- Est. state avg salary
- -11.2%
- vs national
- #30
- National rank
- 116
- Districts
North Carolina's estimated average teacher salary is $76,187, materially below the national average of $85,759, ranking #30 of 51 states and territories, across 116 public school districts (NCES CCD F-33, FY2022).
- middle third nationally (#30 of 51)
- $29,311 spread between its highest- and lowest-paying districts
- -11.2% vs the national average
- +34.7% since FY2019
- #27 of 51 purchasing-power-adjusted (BEA RPP 94.0)
What does the NCES F-33 data show for North Carolina?
North Carolina reports 116 public school districts in the NCES Common Core of Data FY2022 Local Education Agency Finance Survey, with an average teacher salary of $76,187. That places the state in the middle third of US teacher-pay rankings - #30 of 51, materially below the national average of $85,759 (-11.2%). The state's public schools serve 1,392,119 students across these districts. Most district figures divide total instructional spending by the district's REPORTED teacher headcount (NCES CCD Staff Universe Survey); a small number of large consolidated districts that report staffing only at a sub-district level fall back to an estimated ratio instead, since total instructional spending also includes aides and assistants, both figures run somewhat above survey-reported classroom-teacher-only salaries, treat this as a relative cross-district comparison, not an exact paycheck, and see our methodology for the formula, its data source per district, and its limits.
Among enrolling districts, pay varies widely: Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools reports the highest estimated average salary at $91,804, while Watauga County Schools sits at the lower end at $62,494 - a spread of $29,311 between top and bottom reporting districts. Licensing rules, state aid formulas, collective bargaining density, and local tax bases all drive this intra-state variation. Urban and suburban districts with larger tax bases typically lead, while rural districts often lag despite lower cost of living.
Teacher compensation here reflects both state policy choices, the statutory minimum salary schedule, pension funding levels, licensure reciprocity, and the funding formula that determines how much state aid each district receives per pupil. A #30 national rank signals where North Carolina sits in the competition for teachers against neighboring states; teacher shortage areas typically correlate with lower pay rank. Figures below are per-district averages derived from the F-33 instructional salary expenditure field (Z33) divided by each district's reported teacher FTE (or an estimated FTE for the small minority with no reported figure), a district-level aggregate, not individual salary records.
Purchasing-power-adjusted rank
North Carolina's nominal average teacher salary ranks #30 of 51 states and territories. Adjusted by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis's 2022 Regional Price Parity (94.0, US = 100, a relative state-level price-level index, not a district or metro cost-of-living figure), the estimate becomes $81,039, ranking #27 of 51 , 3 places higher 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.
North Carolina's estimated average teacher salary, FY2019-FY2022
Highest-paying districts in North Carolina
Estimated average teacher salary, enrolling districts (200+ students)
-
$91,804 Est. avg salary
-
$91,015 Est. avg salary
-
$86,968 Est. avg salary
-
$84,273 Est. avg salary
-
$84,095 Est. avg salary
-
$83,167 Est. avg salary
-
$83,042 Est. avg salary
-
$82,309 Est. avg salary
-
$82,220 Est. avg salary
-
$81,988 Est. avg salary
What this shows Chapel Hill-Carrboro City 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alleghany County Schools | $69,799 | 1,392 | $17,210 |
| Iredell-Statesville Schools | $69,794 | 20,686 | $12,479 |
| Mitchell County Schools | $69,484 | 1,727 | $15,139 |
| Beaufort County Schools | $69,380 | 5,926 | $15,013 |
| Avery County Schools | $69,319 | 1,885 | $18,561 |
| Duplin County Schools | $69,310 | 9,725 | $11,840 |
| Lincoln County Schools | $69,291 | 11,314 | $11,236 |
| Transylvania County Schools | $68,648 | 3,328 | $14,327 |
| Hoke County Schools | $68,646 | 8,874 | $12,029 |
| Surry County Schools | $68,368 | 7,300 | $13,317 |
| Harnett County Schools | $67,939 | 19,705 | $11,473 |
| Stokes County Schools | $67,582 | 5,519 | $13,565 |
| Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools | $67,335 | 4,840 | $13,578 |
| Stanly County Schools | $66,393 | 8,315 | $12,039 |
| Watauga County Schools | $62,494 | 4,673 | $13,277 |
Showing 101–115 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Watauga County Schools | $62,494 | 4,673 |
| Stanly County Schools | $66,393 | 8,315 |
| Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools | $67,335 | 4,840 |
| Stokes County Schools | $67,582 | 5,519 |
| Harnett County Schools | $67,939 | 19,705 |
| Surry County Schools | $68,368 | 7,300 |
| Hoke County Schools | $68,646 | 8,874 |
| Transylvania County Schools | $68,648 | 3,328 |
| Lincoln County Schools | $69,291 | 11,314 |
| Duplin County Schools | $69,310 | 9,725 |
Among enrolling districts (200+ students) with a reliable estimate; service entities excluded, see methodology.
Compare Nearby-Ranked States
Data: NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey + Staff Universe Survey, FY2022. 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 North Carolina's 116 public school districts, the average teacher salary is $76,187 (NCES CCD F-33 finance data divided by CCD Staff Universe Survey teacher headcounts, FY2022). This figure is derived from total instructional spending and runs above survey-reported classroom-teacher-only salaries, read it as a relative comparison.
Which North Carolina school district pays teachers the most?
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools reports the highest average teacher salary in North Carolina at $91,804, while Watauga County Schools sits at the lower end at $62,494.
How does North Carolina teacher pay compare to the national average?
North Carolina's average of $76,187 is materially below the national average of $85,759 (-11.2%), ranking #30 of 51 US states and territories.
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 1,392,119 students.
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 Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools at $91,804. 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?
Adjusted by the BEA's 2022 Regional Price Parity (94.0, US=100), North Carolina's purchasing-power-adjusted estimated teacher salary is $81,039, ranking #27 of 51 states and territories, higher than its #30 nominal-salary rank. This is a relative state-level price-level comparison, not take-home pay, taxes, or district/metro cost of living.
Related
According to the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) F-33 Local Education Agency Finance Survey, PlainTeacher's figures are computed directly, no number is typed in by an editor. North Carolina's district figures are aggregated directly from each district's FY2022 F-33 submission, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error on this page. Data current as of FY2022.
| Publisher | PlainTeacher |
| Sources | Public official public datasets |