Human Resources Manager Salary in Durham, NC
Human Resources Managers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median $160,580 a year — 8% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $115,124 take-home, or $9,594 a month.
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Pre-filled with the median human resources manager salary in Durham, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$27,273
- Social Security (6.2%)$9,956
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,328
- North Carolina income tax$5,898
- Take-home pay$115,124
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 3.99% state
Human Resources Manager pay by experience in Durham, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $103,300 | $49.66 | $77,889 | $6,491 |
| 25th percentile | $128,920 | $61.98 | $94,748 | $7,896 |
| Median (50th) | $160,580 | $77.20 | $115,124 | $9,594 |
| 75th percentile | $210,130 | $101.02 | $148,512 | $12,376 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $298,410+ | $143.47 | $202,783 | $16,899 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $160,580 buys in Durham, NC
Prices in Durham, NC are 2.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median human resources manager's $115,124 take-home pay has the buying power of $117,989 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Durham, NC has 1.3× the national concentration of human resources manager jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for human resources managers, adjusted for cost of living
Durham, NC ranks #5 of 69 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $220,460 | $144,650 | $130,996 |
| 2 | Bridgeport, CT | $191,190 | $133,038 | $124,493 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $209,340 | $137,845 | $119,230 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $184,990 | $128,708 | $118,881 |
| 5 | Durham, NC | $160,580 | $115,124 | $117,989 |
| 6 | Charlotte, NC | $158,930 | $114,062 | $117,169 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $171,360 | $128,391 | $115,529 |
| 8 | Memphis, TN | $138,560 | $105,972 | $114,963 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 69 metros →
Human Resources Manager salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Charlotte, NC — $158,930
- Raleigh, NC — $144,190
Frequently asked questions
How much does a human resources manager make in Durham, NC?
The median human resources manager salary in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $160,580 a year, or about $77.20 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $128,920 and $210,130.
What is a human resources manager’s take-home pay in Durham, NC?
On the median $160,580 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $115,124 a year ($9,594 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,898 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Durham, NC a good place to work as a human resources manager?
Pay here is 8% above the national median of $149,280. Local prices are 2.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $117,989 would in a typical U.S. city. Durham, NC ranks #5 of 69 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a human resources manager afford rent in Durham, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Durham, NC is $1,456 a month ($1,660 for two bedrooms) — 15% of a median human resources manager’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Durham, NC
- Sales Manager — $190,370
- Natural Sciences Manager — $183,540
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $176,190
- Marketing Manager — $175,160
- Architectural and Engineering Manager — $172,480
- Financial Manager — $165,470
- Managers, All Other — $152,090
- Industrial Production Manager — $137,950
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $133,970
- Construction Manager — $119,980
- Facilities Manager — $118,990
- General and Operations Manager — $113,930