NAICS 52

Finance and Insurance in North Carolina: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 48.4 (Elevated), ranked #17 of 51 states. 19,888 establishments, 232,000 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 48.4
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Elevated

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national finance and insurance average.

The finance and insurance sector in North Carolina is tracking close to the U.S. baseline, with no extreme signals in volatility, saturation, or wage pressure. Entry conditions are within the national median range.

5-Year Firm Retention
43.1%
Percentile within industry
Rank #30 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
↑ 54.6
Scale of 0-100
Rank #11 of 51 states
Establishment Density
38.0
vs. national average
Rank #24 of 51 states
Market Volatility
2.4
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
65.3
Labor cost pressure

19,888 Establishments in North Carolina

19,888
Establishments
+0.6% YoY
232,000
Total Employment
+1.6% YoY
$130,187
Average Annual Wage
+5.5% YoY

North Carolina vs National Finance and Insurance Average

How North Carolina's finance and insurance market compares to the national average across all 51 states.

Metric NC National Difference
Entry Risk Score 48.4 51.9 -3.5
5-Year Retention 43.1% 51.0% -7.9
Growth Momentum 54.6 34.4 +20.3
Market Volatility 2.4 9.6 -7.2
Establishment Density 38.0 42.5 -4.5
Wage Pressure 65.3 66.8 -1.5

Green = favorable vs national average. Red = less favorable. Metrics are relative within finance and insurance only.

North Carolina Ranks #17 of 51 for Finance and Insurance

North Carolina ranks #17 out of 51 states for finance and insurance market entry conditions.

Finance and Insurance Entry Risk by State

Rank State Risk Score Classification
#1 Hawaii 37.0 moderate
#2 West Virginia 39.8 moderate
#3 Kentucky 40.0 moderate
#4 Rhode Island 41.9 moderate
#5 Maine 42.0 elevated
#17 North Carolina You 48.4 elevated
Entry Risk by State Alaska — 49.7 · #21 Alabama — 48.4 · #18 Arkansas — 44.7 · #7 Arizona — 52.6 · #29 California — 46.9 · #12 Colorado — 67.3 · #50 Connecticut — 73.7 · #51 District of Columbia — 47.9 · #13 Delaware — 57.7 · #44 Florida — 61.9 · #46 Georgia — 56.4 · #40 Hawaii — 37.0 · #1 Iowa — 54.3 · #35 Idaho — 56.2 · #39 Illinois — 46.2 · #10 Indiana — 45.4 · #9 Kansas — 57.0 · #42 Kentucky — 40.0 · #3 Louisiana — 42.0 · #6 Massachusetts — 48.2 · #15 Maryland — 52.6 · #30 Maine — 42.0 · #5 Michigan — 49.8 · #23 Minnesota — 46.6 · #11 Missouri — 57.7 · #43 Mississippi — 54.5 · #36 Montana — 59.0 · #45 North Carolina — 48.4 · #17 North Dakota — 52.1 · #28 Nebraska — 49.4 · #20 New Hampshire — 49.8 · #22 New Jersey — 53.2 · #32 New Mexico — 53.1 · #31 Nevada — 55.6 · #38 New York — 65.4 · #49 Ohio — 48.2 · #14 Oklahoma — 64.9 · #48 Oregon — 56.7 · #41 Pennsylvania — 48.8 · #19 Rhode Island — 41.9 · #4 South Carolina — 48.4 · #16 South Dakota — 50.1 · #24 Tennessee — 53.4 · #33 Texas — 50.4 · #25 Utah — 51.9 · #27 Virginia — 50.8 · #26 Vermont — 53.6 · #34 Washington — 55.5 · #37 Wisconsin — 45.3 · #8 West Virginia — 39.8 · #2 Wyoming — 62.0 · #47
Low Moderate Elevated High

Tap a state to view details

About Entry Risk Score: A weighted composite of firm retention, growth momentum, market volatility, establishment density, and wage pressure. Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: February 2026. Next refresh expected: Q2 2026 (BLS QCEW update).

Compare to Another State

How does North Carolina stack up against other states for finance and insurance?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Finance and Insurance in Neighboring States

How North Carolina's finance and insurance market compares to bordering states.

South Carolina 48.4 #16/51 Virginia 50.8 #26/51 Tennessee 53.4 #33/51 Georgia 56.4 #40/51

Other Industries in North Carolina

Construction → Healthcare and Social Assistance → Retail Trade → Accommodation and Food Services → Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services → Real Estate and Rental and Leasing → Administrative and Support Services → Information → Other Services →