Sources: North Carolina Office of State Human Resources (OSHR), North Carolina Class Specifications and Graded Salary Schedules (DT, HP, LG, MH, NC, SW); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.
North Carolina state pay plan Sourced
Published rates for each class, lowest first, effective February 1, 2026. These are the ranges North Carolina sets for its own state employees; cities, counties and school districts have their own pay plans.
| Class and grade | Published rate |
|---|---|
| Highway Patrol Trooper Class 32000504 · class description Grade HP01 | $50,284 – $80,454 a year |
| Highway Patrol Trooper (Senior) Class 32000506 · class description Grade HP02 | $52,799 – $84,478 a year |
| Highway Patrol Trooper (Master) Class 32000505 · class description Grade HP03 | $53,385 – $90,754 a year |
Schedule: Salary Schedule HP. Rates are as the plan publishes them; "a year" figures are conversions. Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).
Source: North Carolina Office of State Human Resources (OSHR), North Carolina Class Specifications and Graded Salary Schedules (DT, HP, LG, MH, NC, SW). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Pay in North Carolina, all employers Sourced
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (SOC 33-3051) in North Carolina, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.
| Measure | NC |
|---|---|
| Workers | 22,370 |
| 10th percentile | $46,040 |
| Median | $59,300 |
| 90th percentile | $80,240 |
| National median, government employers | $76,300 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.
More about this job
Requirements, hiring process, training, schedule and day-to-day work are on the national State Trooper / Highway Patrol Officer page.