SalariesByCity
BLS SOC 25-1099 · North Carolina · Updated 2026

College Professor Salary in Raleigh, NC

College Professors in Raleigh, NC earn a median of $69,000/year, ranging from $53,130 (25th percentile) to $110,400 (90th percentile). After North Carolina state taxes (4.5%) and cost-of-living adjustments (COL index 103), this is equivalent to $66,990 in purchasing power vs the US average.

Median Annual
$69,000
BLS median
Entry Level (P25)
$53,130
25th percentile
Senior (P75)
$88,320
75th percentile
Top Earners (P90)
$110,400
90th percentile

1Salary Distribution in Raleigh, NC

P25
P75
P25
$53,130
Median
$69,000
P75
$88,320
P90
$110,400

2Estimated Take-Home & Purchasing Power

Gross Median Salary
$69,000
Before taxes
Est. Take-Home (After Tax)
$60,887
After 4.5% state + ~7.6% FICA
COL-Adjusted Purchasing Power
$59,114
vs US average (COL index: 103)

* Estimates only. Does not include federal income tax, 401k, health insurance, or local taxes. Use the Salary Calculator for a detailed breakdown.

3

How Does Raleigh, NC Compare?

Nearby and similar metro areas
CityMedianCOL IndexCOL-Adjusted
Raleigh, NC (current)$69,000103$66,990
Charlotte, NC$63,000102$61,765
San Francisco, CA$96,000186$51,613
New York, NY$92,000187$49,198
Seattle, WA$94,000162$58,025
Boston, MA$85,000162$52,469

4Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average College Professor salary in Raleigh, NC?

The median College Professor salary in Raleigh, NC is $69,000 per year as of 2026 BLS OEWS data. The 25th percentile is $53,130 and the 90th percentile is $110,400.

Is Raleigh, NC a good place to work as a College Professor?

Raleigh, NC has a cost of living index of 103 (US average = 100). After adjusting for cost of living, a $69,000 College Professor salary in Raleigh, NC is equivalent to $66,990 in purchasing power compared to the US average.

What is the cost of living adjustment for Raleigh, NC?

Raleigh, NC has a cost of living index of 103, meaning it is 3% more expensive than the US average. The state income tax rate in North Carolina is approximately 4.5%.

What is the College Professor salary range in Raleigh, NC?

In Raleigh, NC, College Professors earn between $53,130 (25th percentile) and $110,400 (90th percentile), with a median of $69,000 per year.

How many College Professor jobs are there in Raleigh, NC?

According to BLS OEWS data, there are approximately 33,000 College Professor positions in the Raleigh, NC metropolitan area.

What do College Professors earn in Raleigh, NC?

Based on BLS OEWS 2026 data, College Professors in Raleigh, NC earn a median annual wage of $69,000. The middle 50% earn between $53,130 and $88,320. The top 10% earn more than $110,400. There are approximately 33,000 College Professors employed in the Raleigh, NC metro area, with annual job growth estimated at 6.4%.

Is Raleigh, NC a good place for a College Professor?

Raleigh, NC has a cost of living index of 103 (US average = 100), making it 3% more expensive than the national average. After adjusting for cost of living, a College Professor in Raleigh, NC earning $69,000has the equivalent purchasing power of $66,990 relative to the US median. North Carolina has a state income tax rate of approximately 4.5%.

What is the cost of living adjustment for Raleigh, NC?

Raleigh, NC's cost of living index is 103, based on composite data including housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and utilities. This means that $69,000 in Raleigh, NChas the same purchasing power as $66,990 in a city at exactly the US average cost of living. Housing is typically the largest driver of cost of living differences between metros.

Compare Raleigh, NC with Another City

See a detailed side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, and purchasing power.

Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Program. All figures are approximate annual estimates based on the most recent available BLS data. Actual salaries may vary based on experience, education, employer size, and specific role. Cost-of-living data represents composite indices from publicly available metropolitan area data.