Every two years, North Carolina's Labor and Economic Analysis Division (LEAD) calculates Star Jobs ratings, which provide a fast, easy way to assess career quality across the state. With a 1-to-5 scale based on regional wages, growth, demand, and education/skill requirements, higher-rated jobs offer stronger long-term potential. Below are three key insights about the 2026 Star Jobs and what they tell us about North Carolina’s occupational opportunities.
1. Every Region Has Ample Highly Rated Career Opportunities
Statewide, nearly 60% of occupations are rated 3-stars or higher. A similar share of those quality occupations exists across every region of the state as shown in Table 1.
Table 1 – Star Ratings Distribution by Region
Source: 2026 Star Jobs, produced by the North Carolina Labor and Economic Analysis Division (LEAD)
2. Education & Skills Play Key Roles in Higher Ratings
Jobs requiring more education and specialized training tend to offer higher wages and greater long-term potential. This is evident in the breakdown in Chart 1.
Chart 1 – Share of Occupations with Some Post-Secondary Education Required by Star Rating1
Source: 2026 Star Jobs, produced by NC LEAD. Minimum formal education requirements sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
3. Wages Are a Major Driver of Top Ratings
Wages are a primary driver of the Star Jobs rating - every occupation paying above the regional median earns at least three stars. However, the ratings also capture long-term potential, not just current value. The highest-rated occupations combine strong wages with solid projected growth and demand, while factoring in education and skill requirements factor. The table below provides a clear definition for each rating.
Table 2 – Star Ratings Definitions
Rating | What It Means |
|---|---|
Unrated | Not rated. This occupation cannot be evaluated reliably. The absence of a rating does not indicate that the occupation lacks value, only that local data is insufficient to assess it. |
1 Star | Limited career potential. Generally below median wage occupations with limited advancement opportunity. Most require little to no formal education or training. |
2 Stars | Building block career. Generally below median wage occupations that may require some level of education or skill that could be used to build upon. |
3 Stars | Solid career. Near or above median wage occupations with mixed growth, ranging from strong growth to slight declines. |
4 Stars | Strong career. Above median wage occupations with stable or positive employment growth. |
5 Stars | Excellent career. Top earning occupations in the region with stable to strong employment growth. |
Source: NC LEAD
While 1- and 2-star jobs are appropriate for certain contexts, 3-star jobs mark the dividing line between limited advancement potential and solid, longer-term career prospects.
Star Jobs ratings reflect career potential, not job importance. Strong career options are plentiful at 3-stars and higher, the right fit will vary depending on individual preference for wages, job security, stress, or educational commitment. Many 5-star jobs pay exceptionally well because they are highly specialized (e.g. air traffic controllers), require significant years of education (e.g. lawyers), demand extensive experience (e.g. CEOs), or can be very demanding (e.g. cardiologists). Others may prefer rewarding 3-star occupations with less rigorous entry requirements.
As for regional definitions, the sixteen regional labor markets are based on the state’s eight Prosperity Zones. Six of the eight Prosperity Zones are split in two, while Charlotte remains intact, and the Southeast Prosperity Zone has 3 sub-regions: Goldsboro-Kinston, Jacksonville-New Bern, and Wilmington.
Access Star Jobs Data
There are several ways to access the 2026 Star Jobs data:
- Interactive web table - Browse and download the full dataset, with filters to explore occupations by region, rating, and other characteristics. This tool is especially useful for workforce professionals and training providers aligning programs with in-demand careers.
- NCcareers.org- A one-stop resource for career exploration, offering job profiles, interest assessments, and training pathways alongside Star Jobs ratings - ideal for students, jobseekers, and educators.
- Occupational Employment Dashboard - View high-level summaries and trends, including distributions by star rating.
Whether you're a student mapping out a career path, an advisor helping clients find immediate work, or a trainer aligning programs to demand — start with the Star Jobs ratings for your region via the links above.
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These percentages were calculated by aggregating star jobs counts at each education level across all regions.