What home projects cost in North Carolina
Construction workers in North Carolina earn $1,430 a week on average, -8.3% against the national $1,559. Because labour is roughly 45% of a residential project and materials cost much the same everywhere, that works out to about -3.7% on the price of a job here.
Biggest difference: ADU, where a typical project runs $6,700 less here than the national figure.
Idaho, lowest Alaska, highest
North Carolina pays more than 18 of the 51, and the taller notch marks the national average.
| Project | In North Carolina | National |
|---|---|---|
| Home Addition cost in North Carolina | $63,100 – $94,700 | $65,600 – $98,400 |
| Bathroom Remodel cost in North Carolina | $13,100 – $20,500 | $13,700 – $21,400 |
| Basement Finishing cost in North Carolina | $27,800 – $41,600 | $28,800 – $43,200 |
| Interior Painting cost in North Carolina | $4,150 – $6,250 | $4,300 – $6,500 |
| Garage Conversion cost in North Carolina | $24,900 – $40,500 | $25,800 – $42,200 |
| Shower Remodel cost in North Carolina | $4,950 – $8,050 | $5,150 – $8,350 |
| Flooring Installation cost in North Carolina | $5,400 – $8,500 | $5,600 – $8,800 |
| ADU cost in North Carolina | $128,200 – $218,400 | $133,200 – $226,800 |
| Cabinet Refacing cost in North Carolina | $5,050 – $7,950 | $5,250 – $8,250 |
| Kitchen Remodel cost in North Carolina | $30,700 – $50,100 | $31,900 – $52,100 |
| Countertop cost in North Carolina | $2,700 – $4,200 | $2,800 – $4,400 |
| Project | In North Carolina | National |
|---|---|---|
| Tree Removal cost in North Carolina | $600 – $1,000 | $650 – $1,050 |
| Window Replacement cost in North Carolina | $5,450 – $8,950 | $5,700 – $9,300 |
| Roof Replacement cost in North Carolina | $6,100 – $9,900 | $6,350 – $10,400 |
| Concrete Driveway cost in North Carolina | $4,850 – $7,850 | $5,000 – $8,200 |
| Retaining Wall cost in North Carolina | $4,200 – $6,900 | $4,350 – $7,150 |
| Landscaping cost in North Carolina | $3,850 – $6,550 | $4,000 – $6,800 |
| Pool cost in North Carolina | $32,100 – $54,700 | $33,400 – $56,800 |
| Exterior Painting cost in North Carolina | $4,350 – $6,750 | $4,500 – $7,000 |
| Siding cost in North Carolina | $7,000 – $11,000 | $7,300 – $11,400 |
| Asphalt Driveway cost in North Carolina | $3,400 – $5,800 | $3,550 – $6,050 |
| Fence Installation cost in North Carolina | $2,700 – $4,500 | $2,800 – $4,700 |
| Gutter Installation cost in North Carolina | $1,450 – $2,450 | $1,500 – $2,500 |
| Concrete Patio cost in North Carolina | $1,900 – $3,300 | $2,000 – $3,400 |
| Project | In North Carolina | National |
|---|---|---|
| Mold Remediation cost in North Carolina | $1,850 – $3,050 | $1,950 – $3,150 |
| Foundation Repair cost in North Carolina | $5,150 – $8,350 | $5,300 – $8,700 |
| HVAC Replacement cost in North Carolina | $9,050 – $14,200 | $9,350 – $14,600 |
| Furnace Replacement cost in North Carolina | $4,400 – $7,200 | $4,550 – $7,450 |
| Well Drilling cost in North Carolina | $5,100 – $9,100 | $5,350 – $9,450 |
| Chimney Repair cost in North Carolina | $1,000 – $1,900 | $1,050 – $1,950 |
| Asbestos Removal cost in North Carolina | $1,600 – $3,000 | $1,700 – $3,100 |
| Water Heater Replacement cost in North Carolina | $1,150 – $1,950 | $1,200 – $2,000 |
| Crawl Space Encapsulation cost in North Carolina | $3,800 – $6,800 | $3,950 – $7,050 |
| Electrical Panel Upgrade cost in North Carolina | $1,800 – $3,200 | $1,850 – $3,350 |
| Septic System cost in North Carolina | $5,450 – $10,100 | $5,650 – $10,500 |
| Basement Waterproofing cost in North Carolina | $3,550 – $6,650 | $3,700 – $6,900 |
How the North Carolina figures are worked out
Every range on this page is the national estimate with one adjustment: the labour portion is scaled by what construction actually pays in North Carolina.
Wages come from the BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages, NAICS 23 (Construction), private ownership. North Carolina averages $1,430 a week against $1,559 nationally, an index of 0.917. Applied to a labour share of 45%, that gives a multiplier of 0.963.
What this cannot tell you. It is a state average, and the gap between a metro and a rural county inside North Carolina is often wider than the gap between states. Materials are treated as national, which is close to true for lumber and shingles and less true where freight is long. Permit costs, local code and how busy contractors are that month move real quotes as much as wages do. Treat this as a starting point and get a written quote.
Questions about North Carolina costs
- Is home improvement more expensive in North Carolina?
- Construction wages in North Carolina run -8.3% against the national average of $1,559 a week. Labour is about 45% of a residential project and materials cost much the same everywhere, so that works out to roughly -3.7% on the price of a job. North Carolina pays more than 18 of the 51 states and the District of Columbia.
- Does the North Carolina adjustment hit some projects harder than others?
- No. It is a wage adjustment, so it moves every project by the same -3.7%, whether that is a tree removal or an addition. What changes is the dollar amount: ADU moves by about $6,700 while tree removal moves by less than $100. If a contractor tells you one trade is unusually expensive in North Carolina, that is a local market condition, not something this data can show.
- What is the cheapest home improvement project in North Carolina?
- Of the 36 projects priced here, tree removal is the least expensive at $600 to $1,000 for a typical job, and ADU is the most at $128,200 to $218,400. Both assume a mid finish level; every calculator lets you change the scope and the finish.
- Are these figures accurate for my city in North Carolina?
- They are state-level figures and should be read that way. The gap between a metro area and a rural county inside one state is often wider than the gap between two states, and the wage data behind this page does not resolve below the state. Use the range as a starting point for what to expect, then get an on-site quote, which is the only firm number.