Human Resources Manager salary in North Carolina
Human Resources Managers in North Carolina earn a median of $142,990 a year ($68.75 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,480 workers.
Pay ranges from $90,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $260,610 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $149,280. North Carolina ranks 16th of 51 states for human resources managers pay. There are 1.3 human resources managers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $161,060, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for human resources managers in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $90,390 | $43.46 |
| 25th percentile | $115,850 | $55.70 |
| Median | $142,990 | $68.75 |
| 75th percentile | $187,520 | $90.15 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $260,610 | $125.29 |
| Average (mean) | $161,060 | $77.43 |
Half of human resources managers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $11,915.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,957.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,499.62 |
| Weekly | $2,749.81 |
| Hourly | $68.75 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Human Resources Manager salary in cities in North Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $160,580 | 630 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $158,930 | 2,310 |
| Greenville, NC | $156,950 | 60 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $144,190 | 1,080 |
| Wilmington, NC | $140,960 | 130 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $140,410 | 680 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $137,110 | 320 |
| Burlington, NC | $135,220 | 60 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $133,320 | 420 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $128,540 | 90 |
| Asheville, NC | $125,420 | 150 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $124,300 | 30 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $117,950 | 140 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $111,120 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for human resources managers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $184,350 |
| Massachusetts | $181,780 |
| New York | $176,650 |
| New Jersey | $172,440 |
| California | $170,080 |
| Rhode Island | $167,110 |
| Colorado | $166,400 |
| Virginia | $165,980 |
| Connecticut | $165,930 |
| Washington | $165,530 |
Related jobs in North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $172,860 | $83.11 |
| Financial Manager | $166,780 | $80.18 |
| Industrial Production Manager | $125,940 | $60.55 |
| Administrative Services Manager | $105,630 | $50.78 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $106,100 | $51.01 |
| Facilities Manager | $108,130 | $51.99 |
| Purchasing Manager | $138,710 | $66.69 |
| Training and Development Managers | $126,200 | $60.67 |
| Compensation and Benefits Managers | $135,240 | $65.02 |
| General and Operations Managers | $101,950 | $49.01 |
| Managers, All Other | $141,160 | $67.87 |
| Sales Manager | $150,470 | $72.34 |
| Construction Manager | $106,640 | $51.27 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $114,410 | $55.01 |
More: Management Occupations · all salaries in North Carolina
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 11-3121. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a human resources manager make in North Carolina?
The median salary for human resources managers in North Carolina is $142,990 a year, or $68.75 an hour. Pay ranges from $90,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $260,610 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid human resources managers make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of human resources managers in North Carolina earn at least $260,610 a year. The top 25% earn $187,520 or more.
What is the starting pay for human resources managers in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $90,390 a year, and a quarter of human resources managers earn $115,850 or less.
How many human resources managers work in North Carolina?
About 6,480 human resources managers are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.