Registered Nurse Salary in Charlotte, NC
Registered Nurses in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn a median $90,620 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $69,474 take-home, or $5,790 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in Charlotte, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$11,106
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,618
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,314
- North Carolina income tax$3,107
- Take-home pay$69,474
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.99% state
The Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro spans North Carolina, South Carolina. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Charlotte, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $69,680 | $33.50 | $55,578 | $4,632 |
| 25th percentile | $81,160 | $39.02 | $63,197 | $5,266 |
| Median (50th) | $90,620 | $43.57 | $69,474 | $5,790 |
| 75th percentile | $103,660 | $49.84 | $78,128 | $6,511 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $110,020 | $52.89 | $82,348 | $6,862 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $90,620 buys in Charlotte, NC
Prices in Charlotte, NC are 2.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median registered nurse's $69,474 take-home pay has the buying power of $71,367 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Registered Nurse jobs are about as common in Charlotte, NC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.91).
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Charlotte, NC ranks #211 of 370 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $216,740 | $142,511 | $129,059 |
| 2 | Vallejo, CA | $203,290 | $134,031 | $123,555 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $174,550 | $116,298 | $107,899 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $171,460 | $114,514 | $107,353 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $186,610 | $123,394 | $106,730 |
| 6 | Santa Cruz, CA | $170,960 | $114,225 | $103,939 |
| 7 | Yuba City, CA | $149,320 | $101,728 | $97,597 |
| 8 | Olympia, WA | $125,020 | $96,717 | $93,293 |
| 211 | Charlotte, NC | $90,620 | $69,474 | $71,367 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 370 metros →
Registered Nurse salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Rocky Mount, NC — $82,300
- Goldsboro, NC — $82,740
- Winston, NC — $86,120
- Greenville, NC — $81,670
- Pinehurst, NC — $81,520
- Jacksonville, NC — $84,750
- Hickory, NC — $80,060
- Fayetteville, NC — $83,060
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Charlotte, NC?
The median registered nurse salary in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area is $90,620 a year, or about $43.57 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $81,160 and $103,660.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Charlotte, NC?
On the median $90,620 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $69,474 a year ($5,790 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,107 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Charlotte, NC a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 7% below the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 2.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $71,367 would in a typical U.S. city. Charlotte, NC ranks #211 of 370 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Charlotte, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Charlotte, NC is $1,428 a month ($1,577 for two bedrooms) — 25% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Charlotte, NC
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Nurse Anesthetist — $239,200+
- Dentists, General — $189,220
- Pharmacist — $150,580
- Physician Assistant — $133,140
- Nurse Practitioner — $130,310
- Veterinarian — $129,080
- Physical Therapist — $101,060
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $98,650
- Occupational Therapist — $98,450
- Dental Hygienist — $98,390
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $90,960