NC · Wilmington · Updated October 15, 2026

Nurse Manager & Leadership jobs in Wilmington, NC

Nurse Manager & Leaderships in the Wilmington area earn a median of $48.84 per hour, about $101,590 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $40.20 and $63.64. That ranks 261st of 377 U.S. metro areas for nurse manager & leadership pay, and 290th of 333 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Wilmington. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Wilmington.

Nurse Manager & Leadership pay in Wilmington, NC

The metro median is 6% below the North Carolina statewide median of $52.18 per hour. Nationally the median is $56.71 per hour. BLS counts about 570 medical and health services managers employed in the Wilmington metro area, 3.0 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.83).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$32.44$67,48043% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$40.20$83,62029% below U.S. median
Median$48.84$101,59014% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$63.64$132,37012% above U.S. median
Top 10%$99.66$207,29076% above U.S. median

How Wilmington ranks

  • 261st of 377 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 290th of 333 after adjusting for local prices
  • 11th of 13 North Carolina metro areas

BLS does not publish a separate figure for nurse manager & leadership. These numbers are for the broader category it belongs to, Medical and Health Services Managers.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Medical and Health Services Managers (SOC 11-9111), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

What your pay buys in Wilmington

  • Overall prices in Wilmington run 4% below the U.S. average (index 96.4, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 7% below the U.S. average (index 93.2).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $48.84 median hour buys what $50.65 buys at the national price level, 11% below the national median.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.

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Estimate your Wilmington paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,758
  • Per year: $87,912
  • Per month: $7,326

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Wilmington metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Wilmington

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$135
Meals and incidentals per day$74
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,463
13-week assignment$19,019

Travel nurse manager & leadership assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free. Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.

Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).

Open Nurse Manager & Leadership roles in North Carolina

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Wilmington as they open.

All Nurse Manager & Leadership jobs in North Carolina

Hospitals in Wilmington

CMS lists 2 hospitals in Wilmington, 0 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of nurse manager & leaderships.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center
Wilmington, NC
Acute careGovernment and federal3 of 5Yes
Wilmington Treatment Center
Wilmington, NC
Acute careNonprofitNot ratedNo

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Primary care shortage areas in New Hanover County

HRSA lists 3 active primary care shortage designations that include New Hanover County (2 population-group, 1 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 17 on a 0 to 25 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.

Shortage areas are where demand for nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other clinicians is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.

Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.

Nurse Manager & Leadership pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Jacksonville, NC46 mi$48.77/hr70,840
Fayetteville, NC86 mi$56.71/hr209,496
Greenville, NC100 mi$61.57/hr95,138
Apex, NC119 mi$53.42/hr75,977
Raleigh, NC120 mi$53.42/hr499,825
Cary, NC121 mi$53.42/hr182,659

Nurse Manager & Leadership jobs in North Carolina · Nurse Manager & Leadership jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in North Carolina

North Carolina is in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an RN or LPN/LVN with a multistate license from another compact state can work here without a new license. Nurses whose home state is not in the compact apply for a North Carolina license by endorsement.

North Carolina taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

North Carolina state guide · Nurse Licensure Compact guide

Other healthcare roles in Wilmington

Wilmington city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do nurse manager & leaderships make in Wilmington, NC?

Nurse Manager & Leaderships in the Wilmington metro area have a median pay of $48.84 per hour, about $101,590 a year. The middle half earn between $40.20 and $63.64 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Wilmington a good place for nurse manager & leaderships once cost of living is counted?

Wilmington ranks 290th of 333 metro areas for nurse manager & leadership pay after adjusting for local prices, and 261st of 377 before adjusting. Overall prices run 4% below the U.S. average.

Where do nurse manager & leaderships work in Wilmington?

CMS lists 2 hospitals in Wilmington, led by Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a North Carolina license to work in Wilmington as a nurse manager & leadership?

North Carolina is in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an RN or LPN/LVN with a multistate license from another compact state can work here without a new license. Nurses whose home state is not in the compact apply for a North Carolina license by endorsement. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

Is Wilmington in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 3 active primary care shortage designations that include New Hanover County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.

What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Wilmington?

The federal per diem benchmark in Wilmington is $135 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,463 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place nurse manager & leaderships in Wilmington?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Wilmington and across North Carolina. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Wilmington.

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What do employers near Wilmington pay nurse manager & leaderships? Get the report.

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Pay report · Nurse Leader near Wilmington, NC
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your Nurse Leader pay reportWilmington, NC · pay published by employers and employer-reported wage offers in federal filings

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • Advocate HealthCharlotte, NC · 16 postings$55.20/ hr$38–$77
  • ECU HealthGreenville, NC · 5 postings$51.54/ hr$43–$60
  • AmedisysDurham, NC · 2 postings$43.03/ hr$40–$46
  • Bellarose Nursing And RehabilitationGarner, NC · 2 wage offers$37.24/ hr$36–$38

Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings.

2What they are offering now

Low$41Median$51.54High$66

23 Nurse Leader postings with published pay in North Carolina, 23 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 23 Nurse Leader roles

  1. Assistant Nurse Manager - AnesthesiologyPermanent
    $43.40–$59.68/ hour
    ECU Health · Greenville, NC · posted today
  2. Assistant Nurse Manager- Operating Room ECHIPermanent
    $43.40–$59.68/ hour
    ECU Health · Greenville, NC · posted today

+ 21 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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