Customer Support Specialist salary in the Central North Carolina nonmetro area
The Central North Carolina nonmetro area is a lower-cost market for customer support specialists: the median of $36,230 a year1 is 10.0% below the North Carolina statewide median of $40,240, and 19.1% below the US median of $44,770. Nationally that is #475 of 520 areas, in the bottom tenth. About 2,630 customer support specialists work here, 3% of the North Carolina total.
BLS occupation 43-4051, area Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the Central North Carolina nonmetro area against North Carolina and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central North Carolina (Nonmetro) | $27,820 | $36,230 | $56,210 | |
| North Carolina | $30,200 | $40,240 | $59,820 | |
| United States | $31,750 | $44,770 | $63,590 |
The middle half of customer support specialists in the Central North Carolina nonmetro area earns $30,750–$44,650. The top tenth earns $56,210 or more, 2.0 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.0 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $13,900 wide, between the figure for North Carolina ($13,630) and the US figure ($14,910).
What to budget for a customer support specialist here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $27,820 | $2,318 | $13.38 | $35,897 |
| 25th percentile | $30,750 | $2,562 | $14.78 | $39,677 |
| Median | $36,230 | $3,019 | $17.42 | $46,748 |
| 75th percentile | $44,650 | $3,721 | $21.47 | $57,613 |
| 90th percentile | $56,210 | $4,684 | $27.02 | $72,529 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $8,420 over the median, the 25th only $5,480 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $10,865 a year in employer cost. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $44,770 falls between the 75th and 90th percentiles in the Central North Carolina nonmetro area, and the North Carolina statewide median of $40,240 falls between the median and the 75th percentile. An offer at the national rate would beat what three quarters of local customer support specialists earn.
What a hire really costs in the Central North Carolina nonmetro area
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $10,518 to the $36,230 median and brings it to $46,748 a year. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
Our open customer support specialist roles pay $700–$1,000 a month under a direct contract. The one-time fee is $2,5003 with a 180-day replacement; paying through Deel adds $49 a month4. Change any number below to match your plan.
A local hire here costs about 3.5 times as much as a remote hire in year one at the midpoint of our range. From year two, when the fee drops out, it is 4.3 times the remote figure of $10,788. About the candidates: most apply through our assessment platform with a written and a spoken English task; each profile shows the English level (B1–C2); Silkstaff interviews every shortlisted candidate live, in English, before you meet them.
Other roles in the Central North Carolina nonmetro area
Of the 17 roles we track in the Central North Carolina nonmetro area, this one ranks #15 by median pay, between medical administrative assistants ($38,140) and data entry specialists ($36,110). Project Coordinator is the highest at $94,170.
| Role | Median | vs customer support specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant | +13.9% | 2,110 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +5.3% | 2,350 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | this role | 2,630 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -0.3% | 210 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -10.0% | 770 |
Measured against the US median, customer support specialists rank #14 of the 17 roles we track in the Central North Carolina nonmetro area (-19.1%), between payroll specialists (-18.9%) and paralegals (-21.4%). The typical role here is at -16.2%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Customer support specialists hold 15.2% of the jobs in these 17 roles in the Central North Carolina nonmetro area, 17.1% across North Carolina and 16.4% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in North Carolina
Across the 18 areas of North Carolina with data for this job, the median runs from $33,980 in Jacksonville to $46,800 in Durham-Chapel Hill, a gap of $12,820 a year. All 9 areas in North Carolina with more customer support specialists than the Central North Carolina nonmetro area also pay more, among them Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC ($44,980) and Raleigh-Cary, NC ($41,900).
| Area | Median | vs the Central North Carolina nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western North Carolina (Nonmetro) | +2.0% | 3,150 | |
| Eastern North Carolina (Nonmetro) | +1.4% | 2,880 | |
| Greenville, NC | +0.2% | 1,160 | |
| Central North Carolina (Nonmetro) | this area | 2,630 | |
| Fayetteville, NC | -3.0% | 1,890 | |
| Rocky Mount, NC | -4.3% | 730 | |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | -4.5% | 670 |
the Central North Carolina nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the Central North Carolina nonmetro area is #143 of 520 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the bottom quarter of US areas. Outside North Carolina, Williamsport and Athens-Clarke County pay just above the Central North Carolina nonmetro area and Brunswick-St. Simons and Anniston-Oxford just below. All four are within $90 a year of the median in the Central North Carolina nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many customer support specialists, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the Central North Carolina nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | +38.0% | 2,650 | jobs | |
| Reading, PA | +22.8% | 2,630 | jobs | |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | +5.7% | 2,670 | jobs | |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | +0.2% | 1,180 | pay | |
| Williamsport, PA | +0.0% | 800 | pay | |
| Central North Carolina (Nonmetro) | this area | 2,630 | ||
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | -0.1% | 620 | pay | |
| Anniston-Oxford, AL | -0.1% | 430 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a customer support specialist in Central North Carolina (Nonmetro)?
About $46,748 a year at the median, or $3,896 a month: $36,230 in pay plus about $10,518 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for customer support specialists in the Central North Carolina nonmetro area?
Pay here is lower than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $36,230 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $27,820, the 90th $56,210, and the middle half earned $30,750 to $44,650.
Is the Central North Carolina nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of North Carolina for customer support specialists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $36,230 against $40,240 statewide. The next area up in North Carolina is Greenville at $36,310, the next down Fayetteville at $35,130.
How many customer support specialists work in the Central North Carolina nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 2,630 in the May 2025 survey. That is 3% of the North Carolina total of 89,510. 9 areas in North Carolina have more; the closest in size is Wilmington, with about 2,850.
Does a customer support specialist cost more than a data entry specialist in the Central North Carolina nonmetro area?
Yes: $120 a year more at the median. The medians are $36,230 and $36,110.
What does a remote customer support specialist cost compared with the Central North Carolina nonmetro area?
Our open roles pay $700–$1,000 a month. At the midpoint, with the one-time fee and Deel, year one comes to $13,288, against about $46,748 for a local hire at the median.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-4051: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.