Do nurse managers or nurse practitioners earn more in North Carolina?

In North Carolina, nurse practitioners earn more — an estimated $128,990 a year versus $109,660 for nurse managers, a gap of about $19,330 (roughly 18% more). One figure is a median reported for North Carolina in official public wage data; the other is an estimate, because public data does not report that role separately.

How much is the nurse manager vs nurse practitioner pay gap in North Carolina?

The estimated gap in North Carolina is about $19,330 a year, or roughly 18% more for nurse practitioners. Your actual pay depends on experience, specialty, shift, and employer — use the calculator to compare both for your situation.

Are these North Carolina figures exact?

Partly — one side is a reported wage and the other is an estimate. Public wage data doesn't break out every nursing role, so where it doesn't, we start from reported North Carolina pay for the closest reported role and adjust. Treat those as a ballpark.

Why are some figures verified and others estimates?

National pay for the main nursing roles — registered nurses, LPNs/LVNs, nurse practitioners, CRNAs, nurse midwives, and nursing assistants — comes from verified public wage data. State, city, and specialty figures that aren't reported on their own start from that national pay and are labeled "Estimated" or "Specialty estimate." We never show an estimate as a verified figure.

North Carolina · NC

Nurse Manager vs Nurse Practitioner salary in North Carolina

In North Carolina, nurse practitioners earn more — an estimated $128,990 a year versus $109,660 for nurse managers, a gap of about $19,330 (roughly 18% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for North Carolina.

Nurse Manager — North Carolina

Specialty estimate

Median annual pay

$109,660

-14% vs national

Hourly

$52.72/hr

Median $109,660

$87,960Middle 50%: $102,400–$132,650$143,290

Typical range: $102,400–$132,650; What most nurses earn
High end: $143,290; Top earners
Entry level: $87,960; Newer nurses

Nurse Practitioner — North Carolina

Verified public wage data

Median annual pay

$128,990

-3% vs national

Hourly

$62.01/hr

Median $128,990

$103,530Middle 50%: $114,260–$142,180$164,320

Typical range: $114,260–$142,180; What most nurses earn
High end: $164,320; Top earners
Entry level: $103,530; Newer nurses

Why the gap in North Carolina

Nurse manager and nurse practitioner pay lands in a similar range, but the roles diverge sharply. The NP is a clinical advanced-practice provider who diagnoses and prescribes; the nurse manager is a leadership role running a unit's staffing, budget, and operations. Which pays more depends heavily on setting, region, and seniority. The North Carolina figures apply the same local pay adjustment to both roles, so the gap here mirrors the national picture, shifted for North Carolina's cost of labor. Actual pay varies with experience, specialty, shift, and employer — compare the national Nurse Manager vs Nurse Practitioner comparison or personalize the calculator.

Nurse Manager vs Nurse Practitioner in North Carolina — FAQ

Do nurse managers or nurse practitioners earn more in North Carolina?: In North Carolina, nurse practitioners earn more — an estimated $128,990 a year versus $109,660 for nurse managers, a gap of about $19,330 (roughly 18% more). One figure is a median reported for North Carolina in official public wage data; the other is an estimate, because public data does not report that role separately.
How much is the nurse manager vs nurse practitioner pay gap in North Carolina?: The estimated gap in North Carolina is about $19,330 a year, or roughly 18% more for nurse practitioners. Your actual pay depends on experience, specialty, shift, and employer — use the calculator to compare both for your situation.
Are these North Carolina figures exact?: Partly — one side is a reported wage and the other is an estimate. Public wage data doesn't break out every nursing role, so where it doesn't, we start from reported North Carolina pay for the closest reported role and adjust. Treat those as a ballpark.
Why are some figures verified and others estimates?: National pay for the main nursing roles — registered nurses, LPNs/LVNs, nurse practitioners, CRNAs, nurse midwives, and nursing assistants — comes from verified public wage data. State, city, and specialty figures that aren't reported on their own start from that national pay and are labeled "Estimated" or "Specialty estimate." We never show an estimate as a verified figure.

Source & confidence— An estimate for a specialty that public pay data does not list on its own. A ballpark to start from, not an exact figure.

Modeled specialty estimate (BLS state wage × specialty adjustment)

Public wage data does not report Nurse Manager separately. This figure starts from the wage the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics published for Registered Nurse in North Carolina (May 2025) and applies a 1.30× specialty adjustment.

Source year 2025. Last reviewed July 17, 2026. Full methodology

Estimated figures for North Carolina. Last reviewed July 17, 2026.