Ever wondered how much the person running your local DMV actually makes? Or maybe you're eyeing a job at UNC-Chapel Hill and want to know if that "competitive salary" they’re promising is actually, well, competitive. In North Carolina, you don’t have to guess. Because the state uses taxpayer dollars to pay its workers, most of that pay info is wide open for anyone to see.
But honestly, finding it is kind of a pain. There isn't just one giant "search" button for the whole state. You’ve got different databases for different agencies, and if you're looking for a teacher or a local cop, you're going to be looking in a completely different place than if you're looking for the Governor.
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The Big One: The NCOSC Database
The heavy lifter here is the North Carolina State Salaries Database maintained by the Office of the State Controller (OSC). This is the one most people are talking about when they want to look up a state employee.
It covers active, permanent, and temporary employees who are paid through the Integrated HR-Payroll System. We’re talking about people in the Department of Transportation, Health and Human Services, and most of the big cabinet agencies.
The cool thing is that it's updated on the first business day of every single month. So, if someone got a big promotion in December, you’ll usually see that reflected by the time January rolls around. It’s pretty transparent. You get the name, the job title, the agency, and that specific annual salary.
Who is NOT in here?
This is where people get tripped up. You won't find everyone in the OSC search. Basically, if they aren't on the central payroll, they aren't in that specific database. This includes:
- Teachers and K-12 staff: These folks are paid by local school boards.
- Community college employees: Same deal—they’re local.
- University staff: Think NCSU, UNC, or App State. They have their own system.
- General Assembly employees: The folks working at the legislature.
- Judges and judicial staff: They have their own separate tracking.
Digging into University Pay (The UNC System)
If you’re looking for a professor or a college coach, you need to head over to the UNC Salary Information Database. This is a separate animal entirely.
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The UNC system is massive. Because of that, their data is usually a "snapshot" taken quarterly. It’s not a real-time feed. One thing to keep in mind: the number you see might not be the whole story. A lot of high-level researchers or doctors at UNC Health get paid from "clinical pay" or private grants that might not show up in the base state salary column.
Why does this data even exist?
It comes down to North Carolina General Statute § 132-6. Basically, the law says that if the public is paying for it, the public has a right to see it. It’s all about accountability.
But there’s a line. The state won't give you everything. You can see the salary, the name, and the title, but you can’t see their home address, their social security number, or their personal medical info. That stuff is locked down tight under the Personnel Records Act.
The 2026 Salary Landscape: What’s Changed?
If you're looking at the North Carolina state salaries database right now, you’re seeing the results of some recent budget shifts. As of early 2026, the average state employee salary has been hovering around $63,000, but that’s a bit misleading because of the massive range.
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For example, a "NC01" grade entry-level position might start around $31,200. Meanwhile, high-level directors or IT specialists in the "NC30" bracket can see base pays well over $250,000.
Understanding Total Compensation
Don't just look at the raw salary number. State jobs in NC come with a "benefit value" that’s usually worth about 60% of the base pay.
- Retirement: The state retirement system is a big draw.
- Health Insurance: It’s often much cheaper than private sector plans.
- Longevity Pay: If you stay for 10+ years, you start getting annual "thank you" bonuses just for sticking around.
How to actually run a search like a pro
Most people just type in a name and hit enter. That’s fine if you’re looking for your neighbor. But if you're doing research—say, for a job negotiation—you want to be smarter.
- Search by Title: Instead of a name, search for "Social Worker" or "Engineer." This gives you a range of what that role actually pays across different agencies.
- Check the "Lapsed Salary" Data: The State Auditor’s office often releases reports on "DAVE" (Data View) that show where agencies have vacancies. If an agency has a ton of "lapsed salary," they might be desperate to hire.
- Cross-reference with the Salary Schedule: The Office of State Human Resources (OSHR) publishes the "Salary Schedule NC." This tells you the minimum and maximum a specific "grade" can earn. If the database says someone is making $60,000 but the max for their grade is $62,000, they’re topped out.
Is the data always right?
Usually, yeah. But errors happen. Sometimes a "temporary" salary increase for extra duties gets baked into the annual number shown, making it look higher than it really is. Or someone might be on "leave without pay," which can mess with the reporting.
If something looks crazy—like a clerk making $400k—it’s probably a data entry error or a very specific lump-sum payout (like a retirement settlement) that got tagged incorrectly.
Actionable Next Steps
If you’re ready to dive in, don’t just browse aimlessly. Here is how to make the most of the information:
- Download the Raw Data: If you're tech-savvy, many of these sites let you export to CSV. It’s way easier to sort in Excel than clicking "next page" a hundred times on a government website.
- Compare Agencies: Use the search to see if a "Management Analyst" makes more at the Department of Insurance or the Department of Revenue. Often, the same job title pays differently depending on the agency's specific budget.
- Verify for Loans: If you're a state employee trying to get a mortgage, you can point your lender to "The Work Number" (NC State code 13063) or use the public database to help verify your income quickly.
- Negotiate Better: If you’re applying for a state role, look up the person currently in that position (or someone in a similar role in that department). You’ll know exactly what the budget allows before you even walk into the interview.
To get started, head to the NCOSC Public Information page for general state workers or the UNC System Data Dashboards for university-specific pay.