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

For a single person: about $78,500/year before taxes to live comfortably. That's the gross income whose NC-taxed take-home covers roughly $1,750 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 Raleigh worker earns about $51,990/year (BLS OEWS, all occupations) — below the $63,000 a single person needs to cover local essentials, so a median local job alone runs 17% short.