Education Graduate Salaries in North Carolina
Federal earnings data for every North Carolina college offering Education, ranked by 10-year median graduate salary. Sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — real tax-reported income, not surveys.
Education in North Carolina. Special Education has 1% unemployment and 98% of districts report difficulty filling roles. Teacher shortages are the most severe in 30+ years.
Typical career paths: Elementary Teacher, Special Education Teacher, High School Teacher, School Counselor, Principal/Administrator. Median starting salary range: $45,000–$65,000. School choice can swing graduate earnings by 30–60% — which is why we rank by federal data, not prestige.
| # | School | 10-yr earnings | Net price/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duke University Durham, NC | $97,800 | $29,612 |
| 2 | Davidson College Davidson, NC | $81,400 | $17,379 |
| 3 | Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, NC | $78,158 | $28,719 |
| 4 | Elon University Elon, NC | $74,545 | $41,555 |
| 5 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC | $72,200 | $11,655 |
| 6 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC | $68,758 | $17,303 |
| 7 | High Point University High Point, NC | $61,389 | $38,707 |
| 8 | Queens University of Charlotte Charlotte, NC | $57,673 | $30,857 |
| 9 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NC | $57,289 | $15,435 |
| 10 | East Carolina University Greenville, NC | $55,146 | $15,739 |
| 11 | University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington, NC | $54,967 | $20,109 |
| 12 | Campbell University Buies Creek, NC | $54,886 | $24,516 |
| 13 | Wingate University Wingate, NC | $52,649 | $20,748 |
| 14 | Appalachian State University Boone, NC | $51,836 | $16,836 |
| 15 | Pfeiffer University Misenheimer, NC | $51,562 | $19,076 |
| 16 | Meredith College Raleigh, NC | $51,539 | $22,488 |
| 17 | Western Carolina University Cullowhee, NC | $49,458 | $13,315 |
| 18 | Catawba College Salisbury, NC | $48,793 | $17,879 |
| 19 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, NC | $48,160 | $10,965 |
| 20 | Methodist University Fayetteville, NC | $48,050 | $24,704 |
| 21 | Gardner-Webb University Boiling Springs, NC | $48,039 | $17,674 |
| 22 | Belmont Abbey College Belmont, NC | $47,937 | $24,639 |
| 23 | Barton College Wilson, NC | $47,913 | $23,626 |
| 24 | Guilford College Greensboro, NC | $47,590 | $22,270 |
| 25 | University of Mount Olive Mount Olive, NC | $47,139 | $18,853 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are 10-year median income for graduates of each institution (all majors, since program-level earnings are released only for select fields). Refreshed every 24 hours.
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Frequently asked questions
What do Education graduates earn in North Carolina?
The median 10-year earnings for Education graduates from North Carolina colleges is $47,913, with a range from $32,864 at lower-earning schools to $97,800 at top-earning schools. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Which North Carolina school has the highest Education graduate salary?
Duke University ranks first among North Carolina schools offering Education, with a 10-year median graduate salary of $97,800.
How is "graduate salary" measured?
These figures come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard. They reflect actual federal tax-reported income of all graduates 10 years after enrollment — including those who pursued graduate school and those who took industry jobs. They are not survey-based.
Are these salaries adjusted for cost of living?
No. These are raw federal earnings figures. North Carolina salaries should be considered in context of local cost of living. For example, $90,000 in California has different purchasing power than $90,000 in North Carolina.