Highest-paying jobs in Wilmington

Written by:
July 8, 2022
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Highest-paying jobs in Wilmington

Stacker collected information on the highest-paying jobs in Wilmington, NC, using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by average annual salary with information up to date as of May 2021.

In Wilmington, the annual mean wage is $48,810 or 16.2% lower than national mean of $58,260, while the highest-paying occupation makes $237,870. Read on to see which jobs make the list.

#50. Facilities managers

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $86,500
- #225 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $101,970
- Employment: 101,230
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($146,040)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($136,440)
--- Ithaca, NY ($136,210)

#49. Mechanical engineers

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $88,880
- #159 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $97,000
- Employment: 278,240
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($137,540)
--- Baton Rouge, LA ($128,790)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($127,030)

#48. Computer systems analysts

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $89,110
- #183 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370

National
- Annual mean salary: $102,210
- Employment: 505,150
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($141,290)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($131,650)
--- Huntsville, AL ($118,690)

#47. Business teachers, postsecondary

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $89,730
- #110 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $105,720
- Employment: 79,640
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Auburn-Opelika, AL ($175,640)
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($175,080)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($154,600)

#46. Communications teachers, postsecondary

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $89,950
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $84,580
- Employment: 27,330
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($149,400)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($127,260)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($124,320)

#45. Technical writers

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $90,180
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $81,470
- Employment: 47,620
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($121,580)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($114,860)
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($100,080)

#44. Civil engineers

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $91,410
- #119 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 310

National
- Annual mean salary: $95,490
- Employment: 304,310
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($119,720)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($116,550)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($115,120)

#43. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $92,200
- #99 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $133,310
- Employment: 191,830
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($226,440)
--- Jackson, MS ($202,690)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($183,250)

#42. Project management specialists

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $93,230
- #88 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 510

National
- Annual mean salary: $98,420
- Employment: 743,860
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($133,950)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($130,250)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($125,330)

#41. Electronics engineers, except computer

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $93,410
- #139 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $115,490
- Employment: 107,170
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor's degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($152,060)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($138,480)
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($136,310)

#40. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $93,740
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,240
- Employment: 94,720
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($180,910)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($160,360)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($151,060)

#39. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $94,590
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $87,980
- Employment: 44,140
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($157,340)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($149,220)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($138,090)

#38. Real estate brokers

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $95,500
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,490
- Employment: 48,460
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($152,460)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($133,810)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($132,320)

#37. Industrial engineers

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $96,770
- #88 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

National
- Annual mean salary: $95,200
- Employment: 293,950
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($142,770)
--- Midland, TX ($129,440)
--- Billings, MT ($126,170)

#36. Construction managers

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $97,760
- #187 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 730

National
- Annual mean salary: $108,210
- Employment: 284,750
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor's degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($160,710)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($149,050)
--- Napa, CA ($145,430)

#35. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $98,080
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270

National
- Annual mean salary: $92,320
- Employment: 243,920
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-South Portland, ME ($129,860)
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($121,360)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($121,250)

#34. Computer network architects

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $99,900
- #167 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $120,650
- Employment: 168,830
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($177,600)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($152,900)
--- Rapid City, SD ($145,810)

#32 (tie). Data scientists

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $100,430
- #52 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $108,660
- Employment: 105,980
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($157,110)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($153,180)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($135,900)

#32 (tie). Personal financial advisors

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $100,430
- #213 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220

National
- Annual mean salary: $119,960
- Employment: 263,030
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($172,780)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($161,010)
--- East Stroudsburg, PA ($158,790)

#31. Industrial production managers

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $101,460
- #296 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $117,780
- Employment: 192,270
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor's degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($155,640)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($153,860)
--- Fort Collins, CO ($153,470)

#30. Information security analysts

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $102,560
- #67 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $113,270
- Employment: 157,220
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($150,820)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($149,250)
--- Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ($135,080)

#29. Software developers

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $103,070
- #135 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 940

National
- Annual mean salary: $120,990
- Employment: 1,364,180
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($167,420)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($158,320)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($148,220)

#28. Education administrators, postsecondary

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $104,190
- #115 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $111,260
- Employment: 155,990
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Corvallis, OR ($178,570)
--- Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC ($165,940)
--- Syracuse, NY ($164,660)

#27. Computer programmers

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $104,630
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $96,650
- Employment: 152,610
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($144,130)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($126,220)
--- Dalton, GA ($123,500)

#26. Loan officers

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $104,930
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 410

National
- Annual mean salary: $80,570
- Employment: 340,170
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor's degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($111,830)
--- Bend-Redmond, OR ($106,290)
--- Wilmington, NC ($104,930)

#25. Soil and plant scientists

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $106,260
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300

National
- Annual mean salary: $76,290
- Employment: 15,610
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($111,450)
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($109,490)
--- Raleigh, NC ($109,320)

#24. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $106,570
- #72 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $105,580
- Employment: 144,640
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($159,890)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($154,170)
--- Trenton, NJ ($144,620)

#23. General and operations managers

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $106,800
- #152 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,320

National
- Annual mean salary: $115,250
- Employment: 2,984,920
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($165,340)
--- Trenton, NJ ($165,030)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($159,210)

#22. Nurse practitioners

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $106,890
- #281 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210

National
- Annual mean salary: $118,040
- Employment: 234,690
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($197,870)
--- Napa, CA ($184,700)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($180,380)

#21. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $107,360
- #42 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

National
- Annual mean salary: $104,050
- Employment: 108,550
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Memphis, TN-MS-AR ($176,770)
--- Columbia, SC ($155,570)
--- Danbury, CT ($151,970)

#20. Physician assistants

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $109,260
- #227 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190

National
- Annual mean salary: $119,460
- Employment: 132,940
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portsmouth, NH-ME ($167,240)
--- Panama City, FL ($165,000)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($164,150)

#19. Electrical engineers

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $110,600
- #53 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $107,890
- Employment: 186,020
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($148,870)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($133,640)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($124,680)

#18. Medical and health services managers

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $113,820
- #149 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 350

National
- Annual mean salary: $119,840
- Employment: 436,770
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($162,110)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($157,340)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($156,370)

#17. Lawyers

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $114,240
- #200 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 320

National
- Annual mean salary: $148,030
- Employment: 681,010
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($231,200)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($191,460)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($186,610)

#16. Administrative services managers

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $116,090
- #52 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $113,030
- Employment: 224,620
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($149,360)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($142,650)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($141,950)

#15. Sales managers

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $119,740
- #211 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

National
- Annual mean salary: $142,390
- Employment: 453,800
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($198,960)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($196,910)
--- Boulder, CO ($182,820)

#14. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $121,520
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 350

National
- Annual mean salary: $102,750
- Employment: 266,160
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($150,760)
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($141,470)
--- Iowa City, IA ($138,870)

#13. Pharmacists

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $121,940
- #193 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290

National
- Annual mean salary: $125,690
- Employment: 312,550
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($168,640)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($163,840)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($158,420)

#12. Human resources managers

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $124,340
- #107 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $136,590
- Employment: 166,530
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($190,020)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($186,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($175,410)

#11. Database architects

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $127,090
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $121,840
- Employment: 50,440
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($187,070)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($161,830)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($156,530)

#10. Purchasing managers

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $133,170
- #45 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $134,590
- Employment: 69,310
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($181,030)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($177,010)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($174,760)

#9. Marketing managers

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $136,240
- #99 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

National
- Annual mean salary: $153,440
- Employment: 278,690
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($210,280)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($198,870)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($191,310)

#8. Architectural and engineering managers

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $136,880
- #193 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $158,970
- Employment: 187,100
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($228,000)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($206,050)
--- Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL ($198,430)

#7. Computer and information systems managers

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $142,290
- #97 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280

National
- Annual mean salary: $162,930
- Employment: 485,190
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($228,030)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($211,470)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($202,800)

#6. Family medicine physicians

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $147,960
- #259 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $235,930
- Employment: 102,930
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Coeur d'Alene, ID ($336,820)
--- Fond du Lac, WI ($336,140)
--- Gainesville, GA ($330,930)

#5. Financial managers

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $148,270
- #61 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230

National
- Annual mean salary: $153,460
- Employment: 681,070
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($209,100)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($201,330)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($188,900)

#4. Natural sciences managers

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $161,310
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300

National
- Annual mean salary: $156,110
- Employment: 74,760
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($222,360)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($219,240)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($216,750)

#3. Dentists, general

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $180,030
- #96 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170

National
- Annual mean salary: $167,160
- Employment: 108,680
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Manchester, NH ($276,510)
--- Salinas, CA ($234,410)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($229,800)

#2. Optometrists

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $198,370
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $125,440
- Employment: 38,720
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Wilmington, NC ($198,370)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($172,190)
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($169,140)

#1. Chief executives

Wilmington, NC
- Annual mean salary: $237,870
- #55 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $213,020
- Employment: 200,480
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor's degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($313,440)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($298,960)
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($296,480)

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