Government Jobs in North Carolina: Employers & Pay

1,139

local governments (2022)

100

counties

552

cities, towns and townships

313

special districts

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments — Government Organization. Data captured September 30, 2026.

North Carolina state government pay plan

North Carolina Office of State Human Resources (OSHR) publishes the classification and pay plan for North Carolina state employees: 1,412 job classes and 107 pay grades, effective February 1, 2026. Below are the classes that match GovJobsWiki jobs, with annual ranges converted from the plan's published rates.

Job	Classes in the NC plan	Annual range
911 Dispatcher / Public Safety Telecommunicator	Telecommunicator 1 class	$32,287 – $56,502
Accountant (government)	Accountant I–IV 4 classes	$50,088 – $101,470
Administrative Law Judge / Hearing Officer	Hearings Officer I–II 2 classes	$50,088 – $92,036
Agricultural Inspector	Agricultural Inspector 1 class	$41,206 – $72,113
Budget Analyst	Budget Analyst I–III 3 classes	$52,592 – $111,871
Civil Engineer (DOT / city / county)	Engineer I–III 3 classes	$57,983 – $123,336
Contract / Procurement Specialist	Procurement Specialist I–III, Contract Specialist I–II 5 classes	$41,206 – $106,544
Correctional Counselor / Case Manager	Correctional Case Manager 1 class	$37,377 – $65,408
Correctional Officer (state prison)	Correctional Officer I–III 3 classes	$33,902 – $65,408
Court Reporter (official)	Court Reporter 1 class	$43,281 – $64,922
Crime Scene Investigator / Forensic Technician	Evidence Technician, Forensic Scientist I–III 4 classes	$35,596 – $111,871
Custodian (schools & public buildings)	Housekeeper 1 class	$31,200 – $48,810
DMV Clerk / Driver License Examiner	Driver License Examiner I–II 2 classes	$31,200 – $59,327
Emergency Management Specialist	Emergency Management Officer, Emergency Management Specialist 2 classes	$55,221 – $101,470
Engineering Technician (DOT)	Engineering Technician I–III 3 classes	$37,377 – $79,504
Environmental Scientist (government)	Environmental Specialist I–II 2 classes	$47,703 – $92,036
Epidemiologist	Publ Hlth Epidemiologist 1 class	$61,177 – $91,767
Fire Inspector / Fire Marshal	Fire Safety Inspector 1 class	$41,206 – $72,113
Forester	Forester I–III 3 classes	$45,431 – $87,654
Forestry Technician (USFS)	Forestry Technician I–III 3 classes	$37,377 – $72,113
Government Attorney (agency counsel)	Attorney I–V 5 classes	$76,041 – $271,443
Government Auditor	Auditor I–III, Internal Auditor I–III 6 classes	$43,267 – $117,465
Grants Specialist / Manager	Grants Administrator I–II 2 classes	$43,267 – $83,479
IRS Revenue Agent / Tax Examiner	Revenue Officer I–II, Revenue Tax Auditor I–III, Revenue Field Auditor I–II 7 classes	$45,431 – $123,336
IT Specialist (government)	Network Technician, Systems Administrator I–II, Network Specialist 4 classes	$52,812 – $131,426
Park Ranger (NPS / state / county)	Park Ranger I–II 2 classes	$45,506 – $78,271
Parole Officer	Probation/Parole Officer 1 class	$37,377 – $65,408
Policy / Management Analyst	Program Analyst I–II 2 classes	$60,881 – $117,465
Probation Officer	Probation/Parole Officer 1 class	$37,377 – $65,408
Social Worker (government)	Social Worker 1 class	$45,431 – $79,504
State Trooper / Highway Patrol Officer	Highway Patrol Trooper, Highway Patrol Trooper (Senior), Highway Patrol Trooper (Master) 3 classes	$50,284 – $90,754
Stationary Engineer (public facilities)	Boiler Operator, Boiler Operator Lead 2 classes	$35,596 – $65,408
Urban / City Planner	Community Planner I–III, Transportation Planner I–II 5 classes	$45,431 – $106,544
Veterans Service Officer	Veterans Services Officer 1 class	$41,206 – $72,113
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor	Rehabilitation Counselor 1 class	$43,267 – $75,718
Wildland Firefighter	Firefighter 1 class	$37,377 – $65,408

Classes are matched to jobs 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.

Public employers in North Carolina

Fire departments · 408

Employer	City	Career firefighters	Website
Charlotte Fire Department	Charlotte	1,056	Official site
Raleigh Fire Department	Raleigh	553	Official site
Greensboro Fire Department	Greensboro	441	Official site
City of Winston-Salem Fire Department	Winston Salem	377	Official site
Fayetteville Fire/Emergency Management Department	Fayetteville	345	Official site
Durham Fire Department	Durham	338	Official site
Concord Fire Department	Concord	288	Official site
Asheville Fire Department	Asheville	273	Official site
Cary Fire Department	Cary	237	Official site
High Point Fire Department	High Point	233	Official site

All 408 fire departments in North Carolina →

Transit agencies · 91

Employer	City	Vehicles operated directly	Website
City of Charlotte North Carolina	Charlotte	112	Official site
Town of Chapel Hill	Chapel Hill	88	Official site
City of Winston Salem	Winston Salem	60	Official site
Research Triangle Regional Public Transportation Authority	Durham	58	Official site
Western Piedmont Regional Transit Authority	Conover	46	Official site
AppalCart	Boone	40	Official site
Kerr Area Transportation Authority	Henderson	37	Official site
City of Fayetteville	Fayetteville	36	Official site
Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation	Greensboro	34	Official site
Alamance County Transportation Authority	Burlington	27	Official site

All 91 transit agencies in North Carolina →

School districts · 122

Employer	City	Teachers (FTE)	Website
Wake County Schools	Cary	10,649	Official site
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools	Charlotte	8,917	Official site
Guilford County Schools	Greensboro	4,480	Official site
Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools	Winston Salem	3,689	Official site
Cumberland County Schools	Fayetteville	2,924	Official site
Union County Public Schools	Monroe	2,507	Official site
Johnston County Public Schools	Smithfield	2,189	Official site
Cabarrus County Schools	Concord	2,175	Official site
Durham Public Schools	Durham	2,125	Official site
Gaston County Schools	Gastonia	1,948	Official site

All 122 school districts in North Carolina →

Police departments · 338

Municipal and county police departments in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 338 police departments in North Carolina →

Sheriff's offices · 99

County sheriff's offices in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 99 sheriff's offices in North Carolina →

Campus police departments · 30

College and university police departments in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 30 campus police departments in North Carolina →

Sources: U.S. Fire Administration (FEMA), National Fire Department Registry; Federal Transit Administration, National Transit Database 2024 — Reporter Agency Information; National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data, 2024–25 local education agency universe (directory and staff); Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime Data Explorer — law-enforcement agencies by state (API). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Pay for government jobs in North Carolina

Median wage in North Carolina for each job's occupation (all employers in the state), next to the national median in government. Largest occupations first.

Job	Workers in NC	Median in NC	National, government
Correctional Nurse SOC 29-1141	111,120	$84,350	$100,490
Public Health Nurse SOC 29-1141	111,120	$84,350	$100,490
School Nurse SOC 29-1141	111,120	$84,350	$100,490
VA Nurse (Veterans Affairs) SOC 29-1141	111,120	$84,350	$100,490
IRS Customer Service Representative SOC 43-4051	89,510	$40,240	$45,860
Office Clerk / Clerk Typist (government) SOC 43-9061	67,930	$41,770	$46,170
City / County Manager SOC 11-1021	63,740	$101,950	$137,300
Custodian (schools & public buildings) SOC 37-2011	53,330	$34,500	$39,640
Accountant (government) SOC 13-2011	49,270	$82,050	$81,390
Government Auditor SOC 13-2011	49,270	$82,050	$81,390
Administrative Assistant (government) SOC 43-6014	43,690	$45,790	$48,290
School Secretary / Office Manager SOC 43-6014	43,690	$45,790	$48,290
Elementary School Teacher SOC 25-2021	42,410	$54,930	$65,310
Public School Teacher (hub) SOC 25-2021	42,410	$54,930	$65,310
Child Support Officer SOC 13-1199	41,180	$80,230	$91,060
Death Investigator / Coroner SOC 13-1199	41,180	$80,230	$91,060
Foreign Service Officer (diplomat) SOC 13-1199	41,180	$80,230	$91,060
Grants Specialist / Manager SOC 13-1199	41,180	$80,230	$91,060
Parks / Grounds Maintenance Worker SOC 37-3011	32,730	$37,910	$40,080
Paraprofessional / Teacher Aide SOC 25-9045	32,150	$29,790	$36,990
Human Resources Specialist (government) SOC 13-1071	31,140	$73,070	$80,330
ESL / ELL Teacher SOC 25-2031	28,620	$57,650	$74,220
High School Teacher SOC 25-2031	28,620	$57,650	$74,220
Border Patrol Agent SOC 33-3051	22,370	$59,300	$76,300
Campus / University Police Officer SOC 33-3051	22,370	$59,300	$76,300
CBP Officer (Customs & Border Protection) SOC 33-3051	22,370	$59,300	$76,300
Deputy Sheriff SOC 33-3051	22,370	$59,300	$76,300
Federal Police Officer (VA, Pentagon, Capitol…) SOC 33-3051	22,370	$59,300	$76,300
ICE Deportation Officer SOC 33-3051	22,370	$59,300	$76,300
Police Officer SOC 33-3051	22,370	$59,300	$76,300

Several jobs can share one occupation code.

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.

Government jobs in North Carolina