Best Community Colleges in North Carolina

Why Attend Community College in North Carolina?

The state of North Carolina offers plenty of collegiate options for those seeking to obtain a degree in higher education. What many individuals don't know is that community colleges can provide a great alternative to large public schools and are often a fraction of their tuitions. Not only that, but these colleges tend to be smaller and more intimate than their public counterparts. Some great options in the Tar Heel state include Pitt Community College (which offers discounted tuition to those in-state) Dunwoody College of Technology (based in Minneapolis, MN) and Mayland Community College (which has six campuses, located throughout the region).

What Career Pathways Are Available in North Carolina?

When it comes to job potential and types in North Carolina, there are 760 job types to choose from - making it the 11th most in the nation. That's about 5.2% higher than the national median of 722. The total labor force in the Tar Heel state sits at a whopping 4,422,020 people, a number that ranks eighth in the nation, with an impressive 3.14% of the country's total labor force. North Carolina strong suits include technology, engineering, aerospace, automotive, and STEM-related vocations.

When compared to Oregon (the median state in this case), North Carolina has a much-improved labor force - with a barely-believable 2,596,650-person difference - making it 142.3% higher than the national median. Ohio is in the best position in this comparison, as it offers 779,010 more North Carolina, which is a 15% advantage in this case. Neighboring Georgia comes in just behind North Carolina, with 4,378,430 people employed, a 1% difference from the former.

What Are The Most Common Jobs in North Carolina?

Some of the most common jobs in the Tar Heel state include home health and personal care aides, nursing assistants, and janitors and cleaners.

Home Health and Personal Care Aides

As of 2021, North Carolina has 56,690 home health and personal care aides, putting it in the 16th percentile of states in terms of job quantity. The median annual salary for such a position is $23,150, once again putting it below the national median of 80%, at just 20%. The highest paying location for this job type is California, with nearly 700,000 such aides employed at the time of this writing - however, North Carolina falls behind that total by nearly 90%.

Nursing Assistants

This is a very popular job type nationwide, totaling 1,314,860 nationwide as of 2021 - which constitutes 4.25% as a whole. With 55,940 nursing assistants, North Carolina comes in 8th for most employees. Although the pay for such positions is higher than with home health aides, it still lags behind the national median by a substantial 28%, with the median salary in the Tar Heel state at just $29,230. Those individuals looking for more money in such a field should look toward California, as it offers 94,450 such positions - if you’re top of your class, that is.

Janitors and Cleaners

The state of North Carolina also has 53,390 janitors and cleaners as of 2021, putting it in the 11th percentile. The pay for such positions is the lowest of the three examined jobs, with a median annual salary of $27,410 - which is 24% lower than the national median. California still remains the highest paying state in this case too, as it maxes out at 214,640 such individuals employed - resulting in a 75% gap between it and North Carolina. However, as with many jobs, the salary potential is underwhelming at 36%, but those who work hard will be handsomely rewarded.