Project Coordinator salary in Wilmington, NC
Wilmington is a lower-cost market for project coordinators: the median of $89,120 a year1 is 11.6% below the North Carolina statewide median of $100,820, and 12.9% below the US median of $102,320. Among US areas it comes in at #302 of 518. About 1,220 project coordinators work here, 3% of the North Carolina total.
BLS occupation 13-1082, area Wilmington, NC. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Wilmington against North Carolina and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington, NC | $51,100 | $89,120 | $152,360 | |
| North Carolina | $61,570 | $100,820 | $164,050 | |
| United States | $61,580 | $102,320 | $167,970 |
Project coordinators at the 90th percentile earn $152,360, 3.0 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.7. The middle half of project coordinators in Wilmington earns $64,350–$122,130. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $57,780 wide, wider than in North Carolina as a whole ($52,720) and the US ($54,660), so what a project coordinator earns in Wilmington depends more on the employer.
What to budget for a project coordinator here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $51,100 | $4,258 | $24.57 | $65,935 |
| 25th percentile | $64,350 | $5,362 | $30.94 | $83,032 |
| Median | $89,120 | $7,427 | $42.85 | $114,994 |
| 75th percentile | $122,130 | $10,178 | $58.72 | $157,587 |
| 90th percentile | $152,360 | $12,697 | $73.25 | $196,594 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $33,010 a year in pay and about $42,594 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $24,770 in pay. 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 $102,320 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Wilmington, and the North Carolina statewide median of $100,820 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Wilmington
At the $89,120 median, a local hire costs about $114,994 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $25,874 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for project coordinators we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Wilmington
Project coordinators have the highest median of the 17 roles we track in Wilmington; virtual receptionists have the lowest, at $34,260.
| Role | Median | vs project coordinator | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | this role | 1,220 | |
| Accountant | -12.6% | 1,520 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -22.0% | 880 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -27.6% | 1,730 | |
| Recruiter | -27.7% | 850 |
Measured against the US median, project coordinators rank #13 of the 17 roles we track in Wilmington (-12.9%), between medical administrative assistants (-12.8%) and office managers (-13.1%). The typical role here is at -10.9%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Project coordinators hold 6.1% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Wilmington, 6.9% across North Carolina and 6.7% 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 $79,240 in Jacksonville to $105,200 in Charlotte-Concord, a gap of $25,960 a year. Of the 5 areas in North Carolina with more project coordinators than Wilmington, 1 pays less: Winston-Salem, NC ($79,560).
| Area | Median | vs Wilmington | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central North Carolina (Nonmetro) | +5.7% | 630 | |
| Western North Carolina (Nonmetro) | +2.3% | 1,000 | |
| Rocky Mount, NC | +2.1% | 290 | |
| Wilmington, NC | this area | 1,220 | |
| Goldsboro, NC | -0.4% | 160 | |
| Hickory-Lenoir, NC | -4.1% | 490 | |
| Burlington, NC | -6.5% | 250 |
Wilmington against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Wilmington is #113 of 517 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside North Carolina, Wichita and Green Bay pay just above Wilmington and Twin Falls and Staunton-Stuarts Draft just below. All four are within $100 a year of the median in Wilmington. Of the three markets with about as many project coordinators, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Wilmington | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | +41.3% | 1,260 | jobs | |
| Green Bay, WI | +0.1% | 1,240 | pay | |
| Wichita, KS | +0.1% | 1,140 | pay | |
| Wilmington, NC | this area | 1,220 | ||
| Twin Falls, ID | -0.1% | 170 | pay | |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | -0.1% | 220 | pay | |
| Honolulu, HI | -11.3% | 1,240 | jobs | |
| Springfield, MO | -12.4% | 1,230 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a project coordinator in Wilmington, NC?
About $114,994 a year at the median, or $9,583 a month: $89,120 in pay plus about $25,874 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do project coordinators earn in Wilmington?
The median was $89,120 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $51,100, the 90th $152,360, and the middle half earned $64,350 to $122,130.
Is Wilmington cheaper than the rest of North Carolina for project coordinators?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $89,120 against $100,820 statewide. The next area up in North Carolina is Rocky Mount at $91,010, the next down Goldsboro at $88,780.
How many project coordinators work in Wilmington?
BLS counts about 1,220 in the May 2025 survey. That is 3% of the North Carolina total of 36,200. 5 areas in North Carolina have more; the closest in size is Winston-Salem, with about 1,530.
Does a project coordinator cost more than an accountant in Wilmington?
Yes: $11,200 a year more at the median. The medians are $89,120 and $77,920.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-1082: 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.