Jobs, pay and daily life in Morehead City, from official statistics with source and year on every table.
Click any dot to open that city: jobs, pay, rent, commute, county economy and climate. Dot size follows population; colours follow the state flag.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Morehead City is a city in North Carolina with 9,806 residents. The median household earns $56,233 a year and the median rent is $1,134 a month, which is 24.2% of the median household income. The nearest metropolitan area with BLS wage data is Jacksonville, NC (52,570 jobs), about 32 miles away; this place is probably not part of it, so its pay tables are a reference only.
How Morehead City compares. Among the 100 largest places in North Carolina, Morehead City is #98 by population, #82 for homeownership (#1 = highest), #26 for long commutes (#1 = fewest), #70 for household income (#1 = highest). Its county, Carteret County, is #84 of 100 counties for average pay ($45,708).
Morehead City has 9,806 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 0.1% of the population of North Carolina. It covers 7 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 1,323 people per square mile. The median age is 44.2, 13% older than the state median (44.2 against 39.1).
The median gross rent is $1,134 a month (rent plus utilities), 8% below the state median ($1,134 against $1,228). Over a year that is 24.2% of the median household income. US housing guidance treats housing as affordable when it takes 30% of income or less, so the typical household is under that line. The median home value is $357,400, which is 6.4 times the median household income ($56,233); a ratio above 5 usually means buying is out of reach without savings or a second income. 46.7% of households own their home, 30% below the state average (46.7% against 66.6%). A low ownership share points to a rental-heavy market with more apartments and shorter stays.
The nearest metropolitan area with wage data is Jacksonville, NC, metropolitan area has 52,570 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $40,230 a year, 21% below the national median ($40,230 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are food preparation and serving related (8,070 jobs, median $27,390); office and administrative support (5,930 jobs, median $39,850); sales and related (5,840 jobs, median $30,600). The area is most specialised in food preparation and serving related (1.7 times) and sales and related (1.3 times), where the share of workers is well above the national share. The best-paying groups with at least 5,000 jobs are office and administrative support ($39,850) and sales and related ($30,600). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of Carteret County was 2.8%. 59.3% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in Carteret County; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.
Among workers, 81.9% drive alone, 0.4% use public transit, 1.3% walk, 12.1% work from home. 8.4% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 40% below the state average (8.4% against 13.9%).
35.6% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, about the same as the state share (35.6% against 35.6%). 4.0% of residents were born outside the United States, 56% below the state share (4.0% against 9.1%). The poverty rate is 18.1%, 39% above the state rate (18.1% against 13.0%).
The warmest month is Jul, averaging 81°F (27.2°C), and the coolest is Jan at 52°F (11.0°C). About 1,513 mm (60 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; Aug is the wettest month (197 mm) and Jan the driest (85 mm). These values come from NASA satellite-based climatology on a grid of about 50 km, so they describe the wider area, not a weather station in the city.
Closest cities in this guide: Havelock (15 miles, rent 13% higher); New Bern (32 miles, rent 5% lower); Piney Green (32 miles, rent 6% higher); Jacksonville (37 miles, rent 16% higher). Rent differences are against Morehead City; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.
Federal jobs in North Carolina (495) →State guide: North CarolinaCountry guideCarteret CountyNorth Carolina rankings
These links go to official sources and open in a new window. The first one is the government's or company's own site as listed in Wikidata (property "official website"); check it before relying on it.
There are 495 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 ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | 2,040 | 1.55 | $29,480 | $21,440 | $42,220 | -17% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 1,900 | 1.46 | $27,330 | $21,100 | $36,940 | -12% |
| Cooks, Fast Food | 1,830 | 8.45 | $22,900 | $21,310 | $29,110 | -26% |
| Cashiers | 1,630 | 1.56 | $26,380 | $21,490 | $33,350 | -20% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 1,330 | 1.39 | $33,880 | $29,260 | $44,950 | -9% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 1,140 | 1.49 | $28,870 | $15,480 | $57,360 | -18% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 1,130 | 1.29 | $33,980 | $27,930 | $46,330 | -24% |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 1,000 | 2.13 | $48,370 | $43,830 | $57,770 | -24% |
| Registered Nurses | 870 | 0.76 | $84,750 | $66,760 | $122,430 | -13% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 790 | 1.05 | $33,320 | $25,730 | $37,940 | -10% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | 780 | 1.88 | $37,580 | $27,390 | $58,410 | -15% |
| Cooks, Restaurant | 730 | 1.54 | $29,580 | $23,930 | $37,450 | -21% |
| Office Clerks, General | 720 | 0.86 | $38,730 | $25,400 | $56,660 | -14% |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | 700 | 1.90 | $81,330 | $50,840 | $119,430 | -2% |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | 680 | 1.41 | $29,110 | $23,930 | $34,890 | -21% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 630 | 0.64 | $34,620 | $27,280 | $43,660 | -14% |
| General and Operations Managers | 580 | 0.49 | $91,100 | $40,600 | $185,540 | -14% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | 550 | 1.44 | $46,400 | $30,730 | $75,130 | -4% |
| Nursing Assistants | 530 | 1.08 | $35,880 | $30,130 | $42,070 | -15% |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | 530 | 1.63 | $38,580 | $30,610 | $49,020 | -16% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | 580 | 0.49 | $91,100 | $40,600 | $185,540 | -14% |
| Registered Nurses | 870 | 0.76 | $84,750 | $66,760 | $122,430 | -13% |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | 700 | 1.90 | $81,330 | $50,840 | $119,430 | -2% |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 1,000 | 2.13 | $48,370 | $43,830 | $57,770 | -24% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | 550 | 1.44 | $46,400 | $30,730 | $75,130 | -4% |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | 500 | 1.07 | $42,910 | $30,940 | $60,510 | -15% |
| Office Clerks, General | 720 | 0.86 | $38,730 | $25,400 | $56,660 | -14% |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | 530 | 1.63 | $38,580 | $30,610 | $49,020 | -16% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | 780 | 1.88 | $37,580 | $27,390 | $58,410 | -15% |
| Nursing Assistants | 530 | 1.08 | $35,880 | $30,130 | $42,070 | -15% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 630 | 0.64 | $34,620 | $27,280 | $43,660 | -14% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 1,130 | 1.29 | $33,980 | $27,930 | $46,330 | -24% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 1,330 | 1.39 | $33,880 | $29,260 | $44,950 | -9% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 790 | 1.05 | $33,320 | $25,730 | $37,940 | -10% |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 500 | 0.34 | $31,400 | $22,500 | $39,220 | -12% |
| Cooks, Restaurant | 730 | 1.54 | $29,580 | $23,930 | $37,450 | -21% |
| Retail Salespersons | 2,040 | 1.55 | $29,480 | $21,440 | $42,220 | -17% |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | 680 | 1.41 | $29,110 | $23,930 | $34,890 | -21% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 1,140 | 1.49 | $28,870 | $15,480 | $57,360 | -18% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 1,900 | 1.46 | $27,330 | $21,100 | $36,940 | -12% |
These figures are for the nearest metropolitan area with wage data, Jacksonville, NC, about 32 miles away. They show what the regional labour market pays; they are not a measure of this city.
Median pay across all occupations: $40,230 (US $50,980); unemployment 3.4% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.8% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 12.5% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 11.3% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 11.0% |
| Other services | 8.7% |
| Retail trade | 8.7% |
| Manufacturing | 6.8% |
| Public administration | 5.3% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 4.1% |
| Construction | 3.9% |
| Information | 1.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 1.6% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 0.6% |
Cities have no official GDP or payroll count of their own. These figures are for the county where Morehead City lies and cover the whole county, not only the city.
| County ⇅ | Population ⇅ | GDP (2024) ⇅ | GDP per resident ⇅ | Jobs (QCEW 2024) ⇅ | Employer sites ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Job change vs 2023 ⇅ | Unemployment rate ⇅ | Labour force ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carteret County | 69,148 | $3,739 million | $54,078 | 25,022 | 2,721 | $45,708 | +1.2% | 2.8% | 32,175 |
| Industry ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Share of private jobs ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Concentration vs US (location quotient) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 4,617 | 23.1% | $25,243 | 2.03 |
| Retail trade | 4,343 | 21.7% | $33,967 | 1.74 |
| Health care and social assistance | 2,303 | 11.5% | $59,778 | 0.64 |
| Construction | 1,627 | 8.1% | $52,230 | 1.24 |
| Administrative and waste services | 1,222 | 6.1% | $39,697 | 0.83 |
| Professional and technical services | 961 | 4.8% | $82,218 | 0.55 |
| Other services (except public administration) | 930 | 4.7% | $36,025 | 1.23 |
| Manufacturing | 883 | 4.4% | $50,007 | 0.43 |
| Arts, entertainment, recreation | 871 | 4.4% | $33,602 | 2.07 |
| Real estate and rental | 692 | 3.5% | $52,684 | 1.78 |
| Finance and insurance | 447 | 2.2% | $88,425 | 0.44 |
| Wholesale trade | 360 | 1.8% | $67,146 | 0.37 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 227 | 1.1% | $45,327 | 0.21 |
| Educational services | 186 | 0.9% | $57,518 | 0.36 |
| Information | 160 | 0.8% | $62,074 | 0.34 |
| Utilities | 150 | 0.8% | $80,021 | 1.58 |
| Management of companies | 11 | 0.1% | $106,450 | 0.03 |
QCEW counts jobs covered by unemployment insurance; sectors with too few employers are withheld by BLS. Latest-month unemployment is preliminary.
| How residents get to work ⇅ | Share ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 81.9% |
| Public transit | 0.4% |
| Walk | 1.3% |
| Work from home | 12.1% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 8.4% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $56,233 |
| Income per person | $43,126 |
| Median gross rent per month | $1,134 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 24.2% |
| Median home value | $357,400 |
| Homeowners | 46.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.1% |
| Price level of the nearest metro area (US = 100) | 92.1 |
| Nearest metro median pay, all occupations | $40,230 |
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 | 44.2 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 90.2% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 35.6% |
| Born abroad | 4.0% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 59.3% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 11.0 | 52 | 85 |
| Feb | 11.8 | 53 | 96 |
| Mar | 14.2 | 58 | 97 |
| Apr | 17.8 | 64 | 96 |
| May | 21.7 | 71 | 115 |
| Jun | 25.5 | 78 | 128 |
| Jul | 27.2 | 81 | 158 |
| Aug | 27.1 | 81 | 197 |
| Sep | 25.2 | 77 | 196 |
| Oct | 21.2 | 70 | 127 |
| Nov | 16.5 | 62 | 108 |
| Dec | 13.4 | 56 | 110 |
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 ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Havelock | NC | 15 mi | 17,691 | $58,408 | $1,280 |
| New Bern | NC | 32 mi | 32,734 | $61,031 | $1,081 |
| Piney Green | NC | 32 mi | 14,078 | $72,177 | $1,202 |
| Jacksonville | NC | 37 mi | 71,279 | $57,697 | $1,321 |
| Washington | NC | 60 mi | 9,726 | $40,186 | $856 |
| Kinston | NC | 61 mi | 19,505 | $36,878 | $867 |
| Winterville | NC | 67 mi | 10,725 | $83,193 | $1,534 |
| Murraysville | NC | 70 mi | 16,339 | $81,167 | $1,777 |
| Greenville | NC | 70 mi | 92,857 | $49,748 | $1,007 |
| Wilmington | NC | 75 mi | 120,805 | $66,738 | $1,395 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
9,806 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$1,134 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 24.2% of the median household income.
$56,233 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
2.8% (BLS county, Carteret County (latest month 2026M09)).
North Carolina. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.