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Jobs and Salaries in Winston-Salem, NC

Estimated salaries for 70 common jobs in Winston-Salem, with cost-of-living adjusted figures (0.91× US national average).

Top 5 highest-paying jobs in Winston-Salem
#1 Anesthesiologist
Healthcare
$318,500
#2 Surgeon
Healthcare
$254,800
#3 Psychiatrist
Healthcare
$227,500
#4 Physician (Doctor)
Healthcare
$209,300
#5 Investment Banker
Finance
$182,000
Business
HR Manager
$118,300/yr
Project Manager
$89,200/yr
Recruiter
$57,300/yr
Office Manager
$49,100/yr
Administrative Assistant
$40,000/yr
Customer Service Rep
$34,600/yr
Design
UX Designer
$81,900/yr
Graphic Designer
$52,800/yr
Education
Teacher
$57,300/yr
Engineering
Electrical Engineer
$97,400/yr
Mechanical Engineer
$87,400/yr
Civil Engineer
$81,000/yr
Finance
Investment Banker
$182,000/yr
Financial Advisor
$85,500/yr
Underwriter
$77,400/yr
Auditor
$72,800/yr
Accountant
$71,900/yr
Loan Officer
$63,700/yr
Insurance Agent
$54,600/yr
Tax Preparer
$50,100/yr
Bookkeeper
$42,800/yr
Bank Teller
$32,800/yr
Healthcare
Anesthesiologist
$318,500/yr
Surgeon
$254,800/yr
Psychiatrist
$227,500/yr
Physician (Doctor)
$209,300/yr
Dentist
$149,200/yr
Pharmacist
$116,500/yr
Veterinarian
$100,100/yr
Physical Therapist
$87,400/yr
Occupational Therapist
$86,500/yr
Registered Nurse
$78,300/yr
Therapist (Counselor)
$45,500/yr
Hospitality
Restaurant Manager
$52,800/yr
Chef
$49,100/yr
Bartender
$29,100/yr
Server (Waiter/Waitress)
$27,300/yr
Legal
Lawyer
$122,900/yr
Paralegal
$53,700/yr
Marketing
Marketing Manager
$132,000/yr
Personal Services
Massage Therapist
$44,600/yr
Personal Trainer
$42,800/yr
Yoga Instructor
$36,400/yr
Hairdresser
$29,100/yr
Public Safety
Police Officer
$62,800/yr
Firefighter
$47,300/yr
Real Estate
Real Estate Agent
$47,300/yr
Retail
Retail Manager
$43,700/yr
Cashier
$26,400/yr
Sales
Sales Representative
$57,300/yr
Social Services
Social Worker
$50,100/yr
Tech
Machine Learning Engineer
$150,200/yr
Cloud Architect
$145,600/yr
Product Manager
$122,900/yr
Security Engineer
$118,300/yr
DevOps Engineer
$118,300/yr
Software Engineer
$112,800/yr
Mobile Developer
$100,100/yr
Database Administrator
$91,000/yr
Network Administrator
$81,900/yr
Data Analyst
$76,400/yr
Web Developer
$72,800/yr
Trades
Plumber
$55,500/yr
Electrician
$55,500/yr
Carpenter
$47,300/yr
HVAC Technician
$47,300/yr
Auto Mechanic
$42,800/yr
Construction Worker
$40,000/yr
Transportation
Pilot
$121,900/yr
Truck Driver
$49,100/yr

Working in Winston-Salem

Winston-Salem, North Carolina has a cost-of-living index of 0.91× US national average — meaning typical wages adjust accordingly. Salaries shown above represent the population median for each role; entry-level positions often pay 25–35% below median, and senior or specialized roles can earn 40–60%+ more.

Top earners in Winston-Salem cluster in: Anesthesiologist, Surgeon, Psychiatrist. These tend to require advanced credentials or significant experience, but they also drive competition for talent — meaning recruiters in these fields are often willing to negotiate above-median offers.

Real take-home pay in Winston-Salem

The salaries above are gross — before federal income tax (~14% effective at typical incomes), FICA (7.65%), North Carolina state tax (varies), and any city local tax. For a precise after-tax calculation in Winston-Salem, use our Winston-Salem Paycheck Calculator with your specific filing status, 401(k), and deductions.

Compare with other cities

Considering relocating? Use our Winston-Salem cost of living comparison to see how Winston-Salem stacks up against 49 other US metros. Higher-cost cities pay more nominal salary but cost-of-living often offsets the gain — sometimes a lower-COL city delivers better real purchasing power.

Related pages

Winston-Salem Cost of Living — Winston-Salem Paycheck Calculator — Salary Calculator — Best Cities for Software Engineers — Income Tax Calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the highest-paying job in Winston-Salem?▾
Based on our cost-of-living-adjusted estimates, Anesthesiologists earn the most among the 70 roles we track in Winston-Salem — approximately $318,500/year. Top 5: Anesthesiologist ($318,500); Surgeon ($254,800); Psychiatrist ($227,500); Physician (Doctor) ($209,300); Investment Banker ($182,000).
What's a typical professional salary in Winston-Salem?▾
For a representative mid-tier role like Data Analyst, the estimated median in Winston-Salem is approximately $76,400/year — about 9.0% below the US national equivalent. Real salaries vary significantly by experience, employer, and specific role.
How accurate are these salary estimates?▾
These are population-level estimates: US BLS national medians × Winston-Salem's cost-of-living multiplier from BEA Regional Price Parities. Real wages vary 30%+ by experience, employer, and specific specialization. Cross-reference with Glassdoor, Levels.fyi, and BLS OEWS for your specific role.
Is Winston-Salem a good place to work?▾
Depends on the role and your priorities. Winston-Salem ranks higher for jobs in industries concentrated locally, and lower-COL cities often deliver better real purchasing power than nominal-pay-leading metros. See our Winston-Salem cost of living page for context.
What about taxes in Winston-Salem?▾
Federal tax + FICA apply nationwide. North Carolina state tax depends on the state's structure. Some major metros (NYC, Philadelphia, Detroit, Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Baltimore, etc.) also levy a city income tax which reduces take-home further. Use our paycheck calculator for the city-specific calculation.