Nursing Jobs in Charlotte, North Carolina

Often called the Queen City, the city named for Queen Charlotte of England is the biggest in the state of North Carolina. This metro, whose motto is “Charlotte’s got a lot,” really does have many things to offer nursing professionals considering expanding their careers in the Charlotte area.

Sitting between the Appalachian Mountains and the Carolina beaches, the Banking Capital of the South has more to offer nurses than NASCAR and great Southern cooking. Considering looking for nursing jobs in Charlotte, NC? Learn what this city has to offer nurses both on and off the clock.

Fast Facts About Nursing Jobs in Charlotte, NC

• Is North Carolina a compact state? Yes.
• What’s the average RN salary in Charlotte? The average salary for Charlotte RN jobs is $79,530, compared to the national average RN salary of $89,010.
• Where can I find information about becoming a licensed RN in North Carolina? The website for the North Carolina Board of Nursing has all the latest information on being a licensed practitioner in the state.

What to Know About Nursing Jobs in Charlotte, NC

In 2023, Charlotte ranked #8 in the U.S. News listing of best places to live, which may draw even more people to this sprawling metro area of 2,625,383 people, located in the Piedmont region of the state. Since Charlotte is also the one of the fastest growing cities in the country, it will support many opportunities for RNs, CNAs and LPNs. Nurses have the option to look for full-time, part-time, contract, temporary, travel, and per diem nursing jobs in Charlotte, NC.

What might the patient population of this major Southern city look like? In Charlotte nursing jobs, you’ll find the population has a median age of 34.2 years old, with about 10% of the population 65 or older. Just over 48% of the population is male, and about 51% are female. Charlotte is a “majority minority” city, with a significant African American/Black community (35%). Other main ethnic groups include Hispanic/Latino (15%) and Asian (6%). As in other cosmopolitan cities, many languages are spoken in Charlotte including Spanish, French, Hindi, Chinese, and Arabic. If you can highlight any multilingual skills during your search for Charlotte nursing jobs, or discuss your cultural competence with a potential employer, it may help set you apart from other applicants.

Do you need childcare while you’re working? The North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education has a useful website that can help you find options near you. If your pets need walking while you’re at work, Charlotte has that too.

Working in Charlotte

It may be true that the Queen City has the longest commute time in North Carolina, but this, like many other things, is all in how you look at it. While a commute to your Charlotte nursing job will take you an average of 25.3 minutes, it’s still slightly shorter than the average national commute time of 26.4 minutes. As in many other cities, most people (76%) drive in their cars to work. About 10% carpool, and just about 4% take mass transit. This is actually not a surprising statistic, as Charlotte was listed as one of the worst cities to live in if you don’t have a car.

Even if the commute is a bit challenging, it’s still worth it to consider a drive to your nursing jobs. Charlotte, NC, has such a wide range of opportunities for nursing professionals, you may even find something fairly close to home. Charlotte’s main industries include banking, financial services, manufacturing, energy, automotive, and health. In fact, one of the major employers in Charlotte, Atrium Health, has 900 care locations covering both North and South Carolina.

If you’re interested in acute care for your Charlotte nursing job, there are many top ranked hospitals right in the city. The name Atrium is common, as several of the best ranked hospitals include their medical centers. According to U.S. News and World Report, the top hospitals in Charlotte include:

• Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center
• Atrium Health-Pineville
• Atrium Health-University City
• Carolinas ContinueCare Hospital at Pineville
• Levine Children’s Hospital

If post-acute or long-term care is more of a focus for you, there are 37 nursing homes in Charlotte alone, and 422 across the state, providing many more nursing jobs in Charlotte, NC, and the surrounding areas.

Living in Charlotte

Charlotte is a great place to build a nursing career not only because of the opportunities it affords, but also for its quality of life. A “clean and green” city, Charlotte focuses on keeping the city tidy (the “clean”) and has more than 230 parks (the “green”). If you enjoy outdoor activity, in addition to the plethora of parks, there are 56 miles of trails in the Mecklenburg County Greenway System, making it easy to get fresh air and exercise on your time off from work.

If you’d rather stroll around the city, there’s plenty to see and do. Charlotte features 200 official neighborhoods designated by the city. Part of this wonderful patchwork are the eight historic districts boasting architectural beauties ranging from Victorian to '50s-style ranch homes.

After exploring all that Charlotte has to offer, you’ll certainly be hungry. You can get excellent burgers and barbecue of course, but there are also popular eateries that focus on Mexican, Southern soul, locally sourced fresh food, even a restaurant that uses food and narration to tell a story. There are also good doughnuts.

The arts and culture scene in Charlotte is as diverse as the rest of city. Popular museums include the Bechtler and the Mint (to name only two), and but you can also take in art on a daily basis — sculptures and colorful murals depicting the rich Black history of the Queen City are scattered throughout the neighborhoods. You can see classical dance at the Charlotte Ballet, or a musical at the NarroWay Theater. For a nearly one-stop experience, the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center is home to everything from Broadway shows to comedy to opera.

The weather in Charlotte may be wetter than you might expect, and the summers are pretty muggy. The overall average high temperature is 71 degrees, and the average low is 49 degrees. Charlotte usually sees about 3 to 4 inches of rain per month, year-round. There’s also a hurricane season, although Charlotte is far enough inland to usually escape the worst effects.

One of the best parts about Charlotte is the more affordable cost of living. With a 2% lower COL than the national average, Charlotteans also pay less for housing, utilities, and groceries. The median rent is an affordable $1,219 per month.

Find Great Nursing Jobs in Charlotte, NC, With IntelyCare

Ready for a new CNA, LPN, or RN job in Charlotte? IntelyCare can help. Start your IntelyCare application, and build a schedule that fits your new life.