Cary Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Cary, NC: $24.99/hr median hourly wage, $51,990 median annual salary, cost of living index 110, and $7.25/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and North Carolina taxes.
Cary Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Cary, NC is $24.99/hr,and the median annual wage is $51,990. Entry-level pay estimates around $15.49/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $35.49/hr, and the local minimum wage is $7.25/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Raleigh-Cary, NC metropolitan statistical area (743,120 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so Cary shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$51,990
$24.99/hr
Cost of Living
110
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$7.25
per hour
Unemployment
2.2%
rate
Cary, NC Overview
Population
174,721
Median Salary
$51,990
Average Salary
$70,740
Avg Commute
24 min
Median Home Price
$450,000
Median Rent
$1,700/mo
Job Growth
+3.2%
Sales Tax
7.25%
Cary is located in North Carolina with a population of 174,721. The median annual wage across all occupations is $51,990 ($24.99/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, Raleigh-Cary, NC metro), which is $1,010 above the national median of $50,980. The national median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations median annual wage. The average commute time is 24 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +3.2%.
Cary Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Cary, NC built around the $51,990 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Raleigh-Cary, NC metro). Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile. The non-median rows are Salario estimates.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $32,234 | $15.49/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $51,990 | $24.99/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $73,826 | $35.49/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $92,542 | $44.48/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) are Salario approximations of the typical all-occupations wage spread in BLS OEWS metro tables; only the median row is a published BLS value. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Cary Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Cary, NC, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$42,388
$3,532.36/month · $1,630.32/biweekly · Effective Rate: 18.5%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,630.32 take-home per paycheck after estimated North Carolina and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$51,990
Federal Tax
-$4,059
State Tax
-$1,566
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$3,977
Net Pay
$42,388
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $4,332.50 | $51,990.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$338.23 | -$4,058.80 |
| North Carolina State Tax (3.01% eff.) | -$130.47 | -$1,565.68 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$268.62 | -$3,223.38 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$62.82 | -$753.86 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,532.36 | $42,388.29 |
Salary Comparison: Cary vs Other Cities
See how Cary's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cary, NC | $51,990 | 110 | $47,264 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Raleigh, NC | $51,990 | 102 | $50,971 |
| Apex, NC | $51,990 | 99.6 | $52,199 |
| Wake Forest, NC | $51,990 | 87.9 | $59,147 |
| Holly Springs, NC | $51,990 | 87.5 | $59,417 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in Cary
Cary's cost of living index is 110 (national average = 100). Living in Cary is 10% more expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$450,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Annual Rent Cost
$20,400
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $42,388 annual take-home pay in Cary has the purchasing power of approximately $38,535 in an average-cost US area. You would need to earn $57,189 in Cary to match a $51,990 salary in an average-cost city.
Top Industries in Cary
Cary's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $51,990.
Salary Tips for Cary Workers
- Research top industries. Cary's top industries include Technology, Pharmaceuticals, Finance. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $51,990 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Other Cities in North Carolina
Chapel Hill
Charlotte
Concord
Cornelius
Durham
Fayetteville
Fuquay-Varina
Garner
Gastonia
Goldsboro
Greensboro
Greenville
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Cary salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the Raleigh-Cary, NC metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS does not publish city-level wages, so every city inside that metro shows the same figure. The entry/senior/top-10% rows, the paycheck estimate and the purchasing-power conversion are Salario calculations built on that median. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Cary indexed at 110.
- Median salary: $51,990 annual, $24.99 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Raleigh-Cary, NC MSA (743,120 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $70,740 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for Cary was $90,000.
- Tax burden reflects North Carolina 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 3.99%) (no local income tax), sales tax (7.25%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Cary: 2.2%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Technology, Pharmaceuticals, Finance, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 3.2% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for North Carolina.
- Housing context: median home price $450,000, median rent $1,700/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Cary, NC:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Cary unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Cary QuickFacts, population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance, North Carolina, state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. Cary's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines, always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent North Carolina labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Harlan Voss · Last updated September 17, 2026 · Wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026) · Census data current as of latest releases
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Cary, NC?
The median hourly wage in Cary, NC is $24.99 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $51,990. Entry-level workers are estimated around $15.49/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $35.49/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in Cary, NC?
The median salary in Cary, NC is $51,990 per year, or $24.99 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area). The BLS mean salary is $70,740. This is $1,010 above the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Cary, NC?
Cary's cost of living index is 110 (national average = 100), meaning it is 10% more expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $450,000 and the median monthly rent is $1,700.
What are the best industries in Cary?
The top industries in Cary, NC include Technology, Pharmaceuticals, Finance. The city has a job growth rate of 3.2% and an unemployment rate of 2.2%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $51,990.
How does Cary's salary compare to other cities?
Cary's median salary of $51,990 is 2.0% above the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 110), the real purchasing power is approximately $47,264.
What is the minimum wage in Cary, NC?
The minimum wage in Cary, NC is $7.25 per hour. This equals approximately $15,080 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This matches the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.