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General Contractor salary in North Carolina
The middle half of general contractors in North Carolina earned $29.53 to $43.08 an hour in May 2025, and the top tenth $50.41 or more.1 The median is 6% below the US median.2
BLS has no general contractor occupation. These figures are for first-line supervisors of construction trades (SOC 47-1011); construction managers (SOC 11-9021) in North Carolina earned a median $51.27 an hour ($106,640 a year). OEWS counts employees only, so self-employed contractors are not included.
- 10th
- $24.54
- 25th
- $29.53
- Median
- $36.19
- 75th
- $43.08
- 90th
- $50.41
- 10th
- $51,040
- 25th
- $61,430
- Median
- $75,270
- 75th
- $89,610
- 90th
- $104,850
Which North Carolina cities pay general contractors the most?
Raleigh-Cary has the highest median of the 10 metro areas below, $37.35 an hour; Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton has the lowest, $33.65.1
- Raleigh–Cary$37.35
- Charlotte–Concord$37.16
- Durham–Chapel Hill$36.27
- Winston–Salem$35.75
- Asheville$35.44
- Greensboro–High Point$35.16
- Greenville$34.85
- Wilmington$34.05
The 10 largest of 15 metro areas with general contractor data, by employment.
Do general contractors make $100,000 a year in North Carolina?
Between 10% and 25% do. $100,000 falls between the 75th percentile ($89,610) and the 90th ($104,850).1
How much do new general contractors make in North Carolina?
The lowest-paid tenth of general contractors in North Carolina earned $24.54 an hour or less ($51,040 a year), and the lowest quarter earned $29.53 or less.1 OEWS does not report apprentice pay separately.
Are general contractors in demand in North Carolina?
Projections Central expects North Carolina to go from 36,160 general contractor jobs in 2024 to 38,250 in 2034, a change of 5.8%, with about 2,940 openings a year.3 The US projection is 5.3%.
| Area | Jobs 2024 | Jobs 2034 | Change | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 36,160 | 38,250 | 5.8% | 2,940 |
| United States | 921,600 | 970,600 | 5.3% | 74,400 |
How does general contractor pay compare with other trades in North Carolina?
General contractors have the highest median pay of the five trades on this site in North Carolina, $36.19 an hour. HVAC technicians are next at $27.53.1
| Trade | Median hourly | Median annual | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Contractors | $36.19 | $75,270 | 32,460 |
| HVAC Technicians | $27.53 | $57,260 | 15,230 |
| Plumbers | $27.44 | $57,080 | 14,510 |
| Electricians | $27.31 | $56,800 | 21,640 |
| Roofers | $23.56 | $49,010 | 3,060 |
Where to train in North Carolina
Sources
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, North Carolina, May 2025 (bls.gov, May 2025)
- BLS OEWS national estimates: First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers (47-1011), May 2025 (bls.gov, May 2025)
- Projections Central, long-term occupational projections 2024-2034 (projectionscentral.org, 2024-2034)