Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area
Highest-Paying Occupations in Raleigh Metro
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area
Figures describe the Raleigh-Cary, NC metropolitan statistical area as defined by BLS/OMB — the whole multi-county metro region, not Raleigh city limits. Occupations are ranked by published median annual wage; occupations where BLS suppressed the annual median or publishes only hourly wages are not ranked (8 such occupations here).
Top 25 of 571 occupations
| # | Occupation | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Physicians, All Other | $354,130 | $170.26 | 1,190 |
| 2 | General Internal Medicine Physicians | $291,060 | $139.93 | 440 |
| 3 | Chief Executives | $286,050 | $137.52 | 360 |
| 4 | Emergency Medicine Physicians | $239,200 or more | $115.00 or more | Not published |
| 5 | Physicians, Pathologists | $239,200 or more | $115.00 or more | Not published |
| 6 | Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric | $239,200 or more | $115.00 or more | 120 |
| 7 | Family Medicine Physicians | $218,830 | $105.21 | Not published |
| 8 | Pediatricians, General | $214,680 | $103.21 | 220 |
| 9 | Dentists, General | $207,380 | $99.70 | 1,000 |
| 10 | Podiatrists | $185,800 | $89.33 | 60 |
| 11 | Computer and Information Systems Managers | $173,960 | $83.63 | 6,010 |
| 12 | Natural Sciences Managers | $173,510 | $83.42 | 1,640 |
| 13 | Architectural and Engineering Managers | $169,780 | $81.62 | 1,850 |
| 14 | Psychiatrists | $168,880 | $81.19 | 130 |
| 15 | Marketing Managers | $167,640 | $80.60 | 2,390 |
| 16 | Sales Managers | $163,520 | $78.62 | 3,280 |
| 17 | Optometrists | $163,290 | $78.51 | 240 |
| 18 | Financial Managers | $163,130 | $78.43 | 3,690 |
| 19 | Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $162,800 | $78.27 | 510 |
| 20 | Nurse Anesthetists | $155,250 | $74.64 | Not published |
| 21 | Psychologists, All Other | $152,980 | $73.55 | 30 |
| 22 | Statisticians | $152,880 | $73.50 | 210 |
| 23 | Managers, All Other | $147,370 | $70.85 | 4,320 |
| 24 | Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other | $147,370 | $70.85 | 110 |
| 25 | Human Resources Managers | $144,190 | $69.32 | 1,080 |
The full list of every published occupation here is on the Raleigh metro area overview.
About this data. Estimates are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 release, retrieved from bls.gov/oes/tables.htm on July 24, 2026. OEWS estimates describe metropolitan/nonmetropolitan areas and states — not city limits — and are not designed for year-over-year comparisons. See BLS methodology, our plain-English methodology, and sources. CitySalaryData is independent and not affiliated with BLS.