What salary do you need to live in Durham, NC?

For a single person: about $76,500/year before taxes to live comfortably. That's the gross income whose NC-taxed take-home covers roughly $1,711 rent plus everyday essentials, with a 20% cushion for savings. Figures include 2025 federal tax, FICA, and an effective 3.5% North Carolina income tax.

What jobs here actually pay: the typical Durham worker earns about $60,720/year (BLS OEWS, all occupations) — below the $61,500 a single person needs to cover local essentials, so a median local job alone runs 1% short.