Highest and lowest paying health care jobs in Charlotte
Highest and lowest paying health care jobs in Charlotte
Anybody who has taken a course in marketing, psychology or sociology is likely familiar with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. First detailed by psychologist Andrew Maslow in his 1943 work “A Theory of Human Motivation,” the hierarchy breaks down the complex network of human thoughts into a categorical triage, placing self-development at the top and security and physical health at the bottom. In setting up this pyramid, Maslow framed self-recognition and creative development as ultimate goals, while also prioritizing personal safety and strong physical health.
As such, it has never been more important to recognize the health care professionals who work tirelessly to keep the population healthy. In 2019, the United States spent 17.7% of its GDP on health. While it’s encouraging to know that the country is investing in those responsible for maintaining the nation’s well-being, not all health care professionals receive equal compensation.
Stacker compiled a list of the highest and lowest paying health care jobs in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2019 annual mean wage. Keep reading to see which health care jobs make the most and least in your city.
#54. Dietetic technicians
- Annual mean salary: $22,540
- #115 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,180
- Employment: 29,230
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN ($52,880)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($45,910)
--- Salinas, CA ($44,730)
#53. Physical therapist aides
- Annual mean salary: $26,840
- #113 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,180
- Employment: 49,270
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Savannah, GA ($50,470)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($44,720)
--- Boulder, CO ($41,450)
#52. Orderlies
- Annual mean salary: $27,050
- #82 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,710
- Employment: 46,990
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($51,240)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($49,270)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($44,730)
#51. Nursing assistants
- Annual mean salary: $27,110
- #282 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 11,030
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,720
- Employment: 1,419,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($46,170)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($45,100)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($44,710)
#50. Pharmacy aides
- Annual mean salary: $30,400
- #54 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,490
- Employment: 37,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fresno, CA ($46,610)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($46,430)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($42,620)
#49. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Annual mean salary: $32,400
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 860
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,690
- Employment: 97,030
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New Haven, CT ($48,240)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,890)
--- Port St. Lucie, FL ($43,200)
#48. Pharmacy technicians
- Annual mean salary: $32,440
- #249 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,020
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,250
- Employment: 417,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($51,090)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($50,790)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($50,070)
#47. Psychiatric technicians
- Annual mean salary: $32,910
- #65 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 650
National
- Annual mean salary: $37,550
- Employment: 78,470
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($72,990)
--- Fresno, CA ($66,710)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($66,290)
#46. Veterinary technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $33,720
- #167 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 780
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,670
- Employment: 110,650
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($76,660)
--- Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA ($57,740)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($50,100)
#45. Medical equipment preparers
- Annual mean salary: $33,900
- #125 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 500
National
- Annual mean salary: $39,530
- Employment: 56,900
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($63,400)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($61,080)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($60,670)
#44. Medical assistants
- Annual mean salary: $34,480
- #151 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,410
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,720
- Employment: 712,430
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($49,880)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($48,920)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($47,140)
#43. Phlebotomists
- Annual mean salary: $34,580
- #134 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,210
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,480
- Employment: 128,290
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($58,610)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($54,040)
--- Redding, CA ($52,310)
#42. Ophthalmic medical technicians
- Annual mean salary: $36,760
- #114 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 920
National
- Annual mean salary: $38,760
- Employment: 58,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Duluth, MN-WI ($56,620)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($53,770)
--- New Bedford, MA ($53,250)
#41. Medical transcriptionists
- Annual mean salary: $37,320
- #84 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,210
- Employment: 55,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($67,840)
--- Amarillo, TX ($56,970)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($54,080)
#40. Surgical technologists
- Annual mean salary: $42,270
- #211 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,020
National
- Annual mean salary: $50,110
- Employment: 109,000
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($74,280)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($72,790)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($69,750)
#39. Dental assistants
- Annual mean salary: $44,300
- #66 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,600
National
- Annual mean salary: $41,170
- Employment: 351,470
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($56,010)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($54,510)
--- Rochester, MN ($53,010)
#38. Exercise physiologists
- Annual mean salary: $45,300
- #39 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,750
- Employment: 7,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($184,950)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($88,760)
--- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($69,300)
#37. Recreational therapists
- Annual mean salary: $45,710
- #75 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $51,130
- Employment: 19,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($83,590)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($82,800)
--- Fresno, CA ($82,170)
#36. Opticians, dispensing
- Annual mean salary: $46,120
- #52 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 480
National
- Annual mean salary: $40,730
- Employment: 72,330
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Utica-Rome, NY ($70,730)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($68,970)
--- New Haven, CT ($66,020)
#35. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Annual mean salary: $46,250
- #185 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,250
National
- Annual mean salary: $48,500
- Employment: 697,510
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($69,490)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($68,160)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($67,990)
#34. Massage therapists
- Annual mean salary: $49,090
- #58 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,160
National
- Annual mean salary: $47,180
- Employment: 107,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($76,930)
--- Yakima, WA ($72,870)
--- College Station-Bryan, TX ($70,090)

#33. Athletic trainers
- Annual mean salary: $50,210
- #74 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 310
National
- Annual mean salary: $50,540
- Employment: 28,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($73,250)
--- Lansing-East Lansing, MI ($66,390)
--- Trenton, NJ ($65,320)
#32. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $58,180
- #159 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,610
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,120
- Employment: 207,360
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($110,180)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($109,680)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,670)
#31. Respiratory therapists
- Annual mean salary: $58,710
- #135 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,170
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,950
- Employment: 132,090
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($101,520)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($98,810)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($97,950)
#30. Physical therapist assistants
- Annual mean salary: $60,310
- #103 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 530
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,520
- Employment: 96,840
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($78,530)
--- Victoria, TX ($78,070)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($75,470)
#29. Orthotists and prosthetists
- Annual mean salary: $60,530
- #54 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $72,810
- Employment: 9,830
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($129,500)
--- Jackson, MS ($122,740)
--- Springfield, MA-CT ($103,700)
#28. Dietitians and nutritionists
- Annual mean salary: $61,200
- #108 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 510
National
- Annual mean salary: $62,330
- Employment: 67,670
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($88,350)
--- Salinas, CA ($87,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($87,890)
#27. Occupational therapy assistants
- Annual mean salary: $64,510
- #62 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,880
- Employment: 44,990
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($92,580)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($83,690)
--- Reno, NV ($81,800)
#26. Registered nurses
- Annual mean salary: $65,960
- #240 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 23,720
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,460
- Employment: 2,982,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($140,740)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($138,000)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($134,000)
#25. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $68,160
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,600
- Employment: 56,110
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salem, OR ($106,620)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($103,050)
--- Medford, OR ($82,780)
#24. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists
- Annual mean salary: $69,570
- #76 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180
National
- Annual mean salary: $74,270
- Employment: 37,900
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($124,950)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($104,870)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($99,920)
#23. Nuclear medicine technologists
- Annual mean salary: $70,870
- #77 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $80,240
- Employment: 18,110
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($127,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($124,660)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($119,340)
#22. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Annual mean salary: $72,670
- #110 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 530
National
- Annual mean salary: $75,780
- Employment: 72,790
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($126,850)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($118,880)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($115,280)
#21. Dental hygienists
- Annual mean salary: $74,900
- #135 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,090
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,230
- Employment: 221,560
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($140,150)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($120,420)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($113,940)
#20. Speech-language pathologists
- Annual mean salary: $75,060
- #213 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,090
National
- Annual mean salary: $82,000
- Employment: 154,360
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($117,710)
--- Corvallis, OR ($105,380)
--- Chico, CA ($104,640)
#19. Genetic counselors
- Annual mean salary: $75,880
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $84,310
- Employment: 2,390
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($108,000)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($102,210)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($100,580)
#18. Radiation therapists
- Annual mean salary: $79,270
- #61 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $91,620
- Employment: 17,860
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($142,300)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($126,260)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($124,720)
#17. Occupational therapists
- Annual mean salary: $82,560
- #194 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 790
National
- Annual mean salary: $86,210
- Employment: 133,570
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- The Villages, FL ($115,090)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($108,870)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($107,450)
#16. Physical therapists
- Annual mean salary: $86,130
- #234 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,300
National
- Annual mean salary: $90,170
- Employment: 233,350
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Yuba City, CA ($116,360)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($116,120)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($113,950)

#15. Chiropractors
- Annual mean salary: $94,070
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 350
National
- Annual mean salary: $85,010
- Employment: 35,010
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Toledo, OH ($160,330)
--- Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN ($149,580)
--- Reno, NV ($140,260)
#14. Physician assistants
- Annual mean salary: $103,840
- #217 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 770
National
- Annual mean salary: $112,410
- Employment: 120,090
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($161,370)
--- Leominster-Gardner, MA ($156,250)
--- Waterbury, CT ($154,550)

#13. Nurse practitioners
- Annual mean salary: $104,740
- #229 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,560
National
- Annual mean salary: $111,840
- Employment: 200,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($175,060)
--- Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA ($160,110)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($157,150)
#12. Nurse midwives
- Annual mean salary: $108,790
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $108,810
- Employment: 6,930
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($163,020)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($156,450)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($130,140)

#11. Psychiatrists
- Annual mean salary: $115,150
- #100 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $220,430
- Employment: 25,530
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($282,400)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($280,270)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($280,200)
#10. Pharmacists
- Annual mean salary: $122,240
- #253 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,240
National
- Annual mean salary: $125,510
- Employment: 311,200
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tyler, TX ($161,790)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($158,250)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($157,850)
#9. Veterinarians
- Annual mean salary: $141,400
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 760
National
- Annual mean salary: $104,820
- Employment: 74,540
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sherman-Denison, TX ($210,960)
--- Lubbock, TX ($176,730)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($161,230)

#8. Optometrists
- Annual mean salary: $141,920
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180
National
- Annual mean salary: $122,980
- Employment: 39,420
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Champaign-Urbana, IL ($238,460)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($210,490)
--- Evansville, IN-KY ($183,380)
#7. Dentists, general
- Annual mean salary: $182,720
- #139 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 800
National
- Annual mean salary: $178,260
- Employment: 110,730
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Burlington, NC ($278,360)
--- Burlington-South Burlington, VT ($275,430)
--- Longview, TX ($272,440)
#6. Nurse anesthetists
- Annual mean salary: $207,650
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,190
National
- Annual mean salary: $181,040
- Employment: 43,570
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Toledo, OH ($266,260)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($254,860)
--- Columbus, GA-AL ($247,540)
#5. Podiatrists
- Annual mean salary: $222,760
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $142,680
- Employment: 9,770
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC ($222,760)
--- Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI ($206,190)
--- Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton, PA ($200,200)
#4. Family medicine physicians
- Annual mean salary: $229,810
- #102 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
National
- Annual mean salary: $213,270
- Employment: 109,370
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Racine, WI ($286,030)
--- Jacksonville, NC ($282,580)
--- Gadsden, AL ($281,430)

#3. Surgeons, except ophthalmologists
- Annual mean salary: $231,520
- #66 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $252,040
- Employment: 36,270
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Wausau, WI ($285,230)
--- Oshkosh-Neenah, WI ($285,210)
--- Asheville, NC ($284,780)
#2. Pediatricians, general
- Annual mean salary: $232,790
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $184,410
- Employment: 29,740
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Rockford, IL ($277,390)
--- Killeen-Temple, TX ($273,770)
--- Chico, CA ($270,550)
#1. General internal medicine physicians
- Annual mean salary: $264,210
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $201,440
- Employment: 44,610
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sioux Falls, SD ($282,610)
--- Rapid City, SD ($280,990)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($280,500)



