Jobs, pay and daily life in Durham, from official statistics with source and year on every table.
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By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Durham is a city in North Carolina with 291,467 residents. The median household earns $81,619 a year and the median rent is $1,508 a month, which is 22.2% of the median household income. It is part of the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metropolitan area, where BLS counts 344,020 jobs.
Federal jobs in North Carolina (497) →State guide: North CarolinaCountry guide
There are 497 federal postings open in North Carolina (USAJOBS, state level; we do not have a city filter for them). Private-sector jobs are not in this feed.
Open federal jobs in North Carolina →
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | 9,790 | 2.62 | $135,620 | $100,670 | $209,410 | -0% |
| Retail Salespersons | 5,850 | 0.68 | $31,790 | $23,990 | $45,620 | -10% |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | 5,820 | 2.74 | $46,860 | $38,610 | $59,010 | +2% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 5,350 | 0.63 | $29,170 | $22,590 | $37,860 | -7% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 5,250 | 0.80 | $37,750 | $18,620 | $47,620 | -6% |
| Cashiers | 4,840 | 0.71 | $29,920 | $23,200 | $38,440 | -9% |
| Nursing Assistants | 4,830 | 1.51 | $40,560 | $36,830 | $49,320 | -4% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 4,660 | 0.81 | $46,800 | $31,840 | $62,360 | +5% |
| Cooks, Fast Food | 4,520 | 3.18 | $29,190 | $23,260 | $35,610 | -6% |
| Office Clerks, General | 4,180 | 0.77 | $47,010 | $28,960 | $60,740 | +4% |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | 4,170 | 2.81 | $176,190 | $124,110 | $320,010 | +1% |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | 3,830 | 1.59 | $95,460 | $53,520 | $146,470 | +15% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 3,690 | 0.59 | $36,410 | $29,790 | $48,050 | -2% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 3,560 | 0.71 | $35,230 | $18,020 | $62,540 | +0% |
| General and Operations Managers | 3,400 | 0.44 | $113,930 | $54,140 | $270,290 | +8% |
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | 3,300 | 1.19 | $72,460 | $42,380 | $171,940 | +4% |
| Project Management Specialists | 3,180 | 1.35 | $104,870 | $66,000 | $168,210 | +2% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 3,150 | 0.64 | $36,590 | $28,340 | $44,340 | -1% |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 3,120 | 0.83 | $47,840 | $34,890 | $62,550 | +1% |
| Accountants and Auditors | 3,060 | 0.96 | $85,090 | $60,620 | $152,900 | +2% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Managers | 1,150 | 0.81 | $190,370 | $82,880 | $337,780 | +28% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 2,050 | 8.52 | $183,540 | $117,370 | $317,740 | +10% |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | 4,170 | 2.81 | $176,190 | $124,110 | $320,010 | +1% |
| Marketing Managers | 1,230 | 1.41 | $175,160 | $106,960 | $288,350 | +5% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 860 | 1.77 | $172,480 | $129,900 | $267,480 | +1% |
| Financial Managers | 1,710 | 0.92 | $165,470 | $101,690 | $320,540 | -1% |
| Human Resources Managers | 630 | 1.28 | $160,580 | $103,300 | $298,410 | +8% |
| Managers, All Other | 2,340 | 1.70 | $152,090 | $83,520 | $297,240 | +7% |
| Computer Network Architects | 970 | 2.43 | $144,990 | $104,310 | $184,780 | +8% |
| Database Architects | 560 | 3.78 | $141,770 | $87,070 | $172,430 | +2% |
| Pharmacists | 1,150 | 1.62 | $141,360 | $102,870 | $165,740 | +0% |
| Industrial Production Managers | 620 | 1.14 | $137,950 | $86,710 | $216,320 | +9% |
| Software Developers | 9,790 | 2.62 | $135,620 | $100,670 | $209,410 | -0% |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 1,740 | 1.31 | $133,970 | $83,590 | $276,280 | +8% |
| Lawyers | 1,220 | 0.73 | $132,790 | $61,390 | $333,510 | -17% |
| Physician Assistants | 740 | 2.07 | $132,670 | $107,420 | $168,950 | -2% |
| Nurse Practitioners | 1,450 | 2.02 | $132,300 | $108,200 | $167,060 | +0% |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products | 1,920 | 3.04 | $131,120 | $62,990 | $206,290 | +25% |
| Information Security Analysts | 860 | 2.04 | $129,670 | $83,900 | $170,990 | +0% |
| Electrical Engineers | 1,020 | 2.31 | $129,030 | $78,280 | $213,300 | +7% |
These figures are for the whole Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metropolitan area, not the city alone.
Median pay across all occupations: $60,720 (US $50,980); unemployment 2.8% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 34.3% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 17.7% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 7.3% |
| Retail trade | 7.2% |
| Manufacturing | 7.2% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 6.2% |
| Construction | 5.5% |
| Public administration | 4.0% |
| Other services | 3.9% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 3.2% |
| Information | 1.8% |
| Wholesale trade | 1.2% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 0.3% |
| How residents get to work ⇅ | Share ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 62.2% |
| Public transit | 1.9% |
| Walk | 2.2% |
| Work from home | 23.4% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 8.6% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $81,619 |
| Income per person | $49,636 |
| Median gross rent per month | $1,508 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 22.2% |
| Median home value | $392,800 |
| Homeowners | 52.3% |
| Poverty rate | 11.7% |
| Price level of the metro area (US = 100) | 97.6 |
| Metro median pay, all occupations | $60,720 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
State tax: Flat 3.99%.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median age | 35.1 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 92.2% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 57.3% |
| Born abroad | 15.4% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 69.1% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.4 | 38 | 72 |
| Feb | 5.2 | 41 | 74 |
| Mar | 9.5 | 49 | 96 |
| Apr | 15.2 | 59 | 91 |
| May | 20.0 | 68 | 99 |
| Jun | 24.7 | 76 | 118 |
| Jul | 26.7 | 80 | 122 |
| Aug | 25.8 | 78 | 127 |
| Sep | 22.2 | 72 | 119 |
| Oct | 16.0 | 61 | 87 |
| Nov | 9.7 | 49 | 88 |
| Dec | 5.7 | 42 | 94 |
Satellite-reanalysis climatology on a grid of roughly 50 km, so it smooths local effects (hills, coast, city heat). It is not a weather-station record.
| City ⇅ | State ⇅ | Distance (straight line) ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Median household income ⇅ | Median rent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cary | NC | 14 mi | 179,306 | $134,905 | $1,738 |
| Raleigh | NC | 18 mi | 499,637 | $85,060 | $1,661 |
| Greensboro | NC | 52 mi | 301,198 | $61,515 | $1,172 |
| Fayetteville | NC | 62 mi | 210,815 | $58,407 | $1,250 |
| Winston-Salem | NC | 77 mi | 252,037 | $59,268 | $1,087 |
| Charlotte | NC | 121 mi | 943,474 | $86,416 | $1,720 |
| Richmond | VA | 133 mi | 229,359 | $64,587 | $1,372 |
| Wilmington | NC | 135 mi | 120,805 | $66,738 | $1,395 |
| Newport News | VA | 152 mi | 184,216 | $69,634 | $1,339 |
| Chesapeake | VA | 152 mi | 252,583 | $95,373 | $1,586 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
291,467 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$1,508 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 22.2% of the median household income.
$81,619 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
2.8% (BLS metro area 2026M09).
North Carolina. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.