The wages or salary of a position should be a consideration as you explore possible careers and programs of study at Wake Tech.

As part of its Reach and Rally Strategic Plan, Wake Tech set a goal to increase the percentage of its students who find sustainable employment in jobs where they earn a living wage after completing a credential. Using the living wage calculator created by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the living-wage threshold for an individual in Wake County was calculated to be $26.58 per hour – or more than $55,250 annually – in February 2025. The living wage is updated annually, based on the latest cost-of-living data.

The charts on the following pages reflect annual salaries for dozens of careers in 13 fields that align with Wake Tech programs. Lightcast, an Idaho-based labor market data analysis firm, uses various data, such as quarterly wage and salary information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, to project salaries. The projections cover entry-level positions, after four to five years in specific careers and after 10 years in those careers.

Other resources are available to help with research into which programs in higher education lead to living-wage jobs in and near Wake County:

• Career Coach
• Career One Stop
• NCCareers.org

Need further assistance in making an informed decision about a major or program of study? Book an appointment with a career coach at Wake Tech to explore your options.