How Much Does an RN Make in Durham, NC in 2026?
Typical pay for RNs in Durham, from federal wage data (May 2023), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across North Carolina.
BLS OES May 2023 · Durham
A typical RN in Durham, North Carolina earns $37.98 per hour, or $78,990 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2023). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,583 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $68,800, and the top 10% of earners make over $112,990.
That pay is 6% below the North Carolina figure of $84,350 and 19% below the national figure of $97,550.
RN pay in Durham at a glance
- Typical pay is $37.98 an hour, or $78,990 a year.
- That is 6% below the North Carolina figure.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $68,800; the top 10% make over $112,990.
- Typical pay rose +27% from 2015 to 2023, against +43% for North Carolina as a whole.
BLS OES May 2023
How much does an RN make in Durham?
Pay in Durham runs from entry-level positions at around $33.08 an hour to more than $54.32 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the North Carolina and national figures.
RN pay by career stage in Durham
| Career stage | Durham | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $68,800$33.08 an hour | $67,660$32.53 an hour | $68,940$33.14 an hour |
| First years | $69,190$33.27 an hour | $78,770$37.87 an hour | $80,330$38.62 an hour |
| Typical RN | $78,990$37.98 an hour | $84,350$40.56 an hour | $97,550$46.90 an hour |
| Experienced | $88,740$42.67 an hour | $102,040$49.06 an hour | $112,350$54.02 an hour |
| Top 10% | $112,990$54.32 an hour | $110,220$52.99 an hour | $137,470$66.09 an hour |
BLS OES May 2023 (the latest vintage BLS published for this area; state and national columns are May 2025) · city figures cover Durham as BLS defines it
RN pay growth in Durham
Typical (median) annual wage for RNs in Durham · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2023 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical RN pay in Durham was $62,280 a year. By 2023 it had reached $78,990, a change of +27%, compared with +43% for North Carolina over the same years.
How Durham compares with other North Carolina cities
Charlotte pays RNs the most in North Carolina at $90,620 a year, $11,630 more than Durham. The lowest-paying area in the state is Hickory at $80,060.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Durham | RNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charlotte | $90,620 | $43.57 | +15% | 27,010 |
| 2 | Norfolk metro incl. Chesapeake | $89,450 | $43.00 | +13% | 16,870 |
| 3 | Salem metro incl. Winston | $86,120 | $41.40 | +9% | 10,180 |
| 4 | Raleigh metro incl. Cary | $84,830 | $40.78 | +7% | 12,780 |
| 5 | Jacksonville | $84,750 | $40.74 | +7% | 870 |
| 6 | Burlington | $84,180 | $40.47 | +7% | 1,080 |
| 7 | Fayetteville | $83,060 | $39.93 | +5% | 3,430 |
| 8 | High Point metro incl. Greensboro | $82,860 | $39.84 | +5% | 6,240 |
| 9 | Goldsboro | $82,740 | $39.78 | +5% | 950 |
| 10 | Rocky Mount | $82,300 | $39.57 | +4% | 1,180 |
| 11 | Greenville | $81,670 | $39.26 | +3% | 3,770 |
| 12 | Asheville | $81,590 | $39.22 | +3% | 4,680 |
| 13 | Pinehurst metro incl. Southern Pines | $81,520 | $39.19 | +3% | 1,510 |
| 14 | Wilmington | $80,970 | $38.93 | +3% | 5,040 |
| 15 | Lenoir | $80,060 | $38.49 | +1% | 3,020 |
Every metro area in North Carolina with RN wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · North Carolina typical pay $84,350
Is Durham a good place to work as an RN?
RNs in Durham earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $78,990 a year, 19% below the national rate.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an RN make in Durham, NC?
- A typical RN in Durham earns $78,990 a year, or $37.98 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2023. Entry-level pay runs about $68,800 and the top 10% earn over $112,990.
- How much does an RN make an hour in Durham?
- Typical hourly pay for RNs in Durham is $37.98. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $33.08, and the top 10% earn over $54.32 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an RN in Durham?
- Entry-level RN positions in Durham typically offer around $33.08 an hour, or $68,800 a year.
- Is RN pay in Durham higher than in the rest of North Carolina?
- Durham pay is 6% below the North Carolina figure of $84,350 a year. Charlotte pays the most in North Carolina at $90,620.