RANKING · 2010 CENSUS · 100 SHOWN OF 100

Most self-employed workers, North Carolina counties · 2010

North Carolina counties ranked by the share of employed residents who work for themselves in an incorporated or unincorporated business (2023 ACS). This list covers the 100 counties in North Carolina that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

North CarolinaAll states All rankings

SAME RANKING BYCities States Metros ZIP codes

RELATEDLowest unemployment Highest unemployment Highest labor force participation Lowest labor force participation Most white-collar workforce

RANKPLACESTATEPOPSELF-EMPLOYED WORKERSVS 2000

01Swain County, NCNC14,02425.0%–

02Tyrrell County, NCNC3,53723.3%–

03Washington County, NCNC10,63820.9%–

04Orange County, NCNC152,49819.8%–

05Hyde County, NCNC4,55419.6%–

06Greene County, NCNC20,70019.3%–

07Jackson County, NCNC45,03918.5%–

08Hertford County, NCNC19,01518.5%–

09Warren County, NCNC18,89818.4%–

10Watauga County, NCNC54,78618.3%–

11Richmond County, NCNC42,04118.1%–

12Halifax County, NCNC46,53418.1%–

13Northampton County, NCNC16,49118.1%–

14Martin County, NCNC21,60117.9%–

15Lenoir County, NCNC55,83717.8%–

16Scotland County, NCNC33,32217.8%–

17Avery County, NCNC18,11017.6%–

18Gates County, NCNC10,23417.5%–

19Perquimans County, NCNC13,49017.4%–

20Graham County, NCNC8,19017.2%–

21Durham County, NCNC347,24017.1%–

22Chowan County, NCNC14,08217.0%–

23Pitt County, NCNC182,93616.9%–

24Cherokee County, NCNC30,83016.9%–

25Burke County, NCNC88,65516.8%–

26Pasquotank County, NCNC42,20116.6%–

27Bertie County, NCNC17,08615.9%–

28Chatham County, NCNC85,11115.8%–

29Madison County, NCNC22,55315.7%–

30Granville County, NCNC61,42115.5%–

31Robeson County, NCNC119,94115.3%–

32Mitchell County, NCNC15,06215.3%–

33Montgomery County, NCNC26,40315.2%–

34Cumberland County, NCNC338,47315.0%–

35Caswell County, NCNC22,56315.0%–

36Wilson County, NCNC81,15014.9%–

37McDowell County, NCNC45,19814.9%–

38Clay County, NCNC12,23914.8%–

39Yancey County, NCNC19,08414.8%–

40Johnston County, NCNC256,44814.7%–

41Wayne County, NCNC122,27814.7%–

42Transylvania County, NCNC34,21114.7%–

43Nash County, NCNC99,36514.6%–

44Camden County, NCNC11,31514.6%–

45Cleveland County, NCNC103,32514.6%–

46Polk County, NCNC20,53314.6%–

47Vance County, NCNC42,63814.6%–

48Bladen County, NCNC30,00714.5%–

49Dare County, NCNC38,24514.2%–

50Jones County, NCNC9,57514.2%–

51Rutherford County, NCNC65,74514.2%–

52Stanly County, NCNC68,83014.2%–

53Columbus County, NCNC50,48713.9%–

54Beaufort County, NCNC44,67013.8%–

55Edgecombe County, NCNC49,12113.6%–

56Sampson County, NCNC61,50413.6%–

57Harnett County, NCNC150,13713.6%–

58Pamlico County, NCNC12,75813.5%–

59Moore County, NCNC110,61913.5%–

60Haywood County, NCNC63,36913.3%–

61Anson County, NCNC21,75813.3%–

62Carteret County, NCNC70,46913.2%–

63Franklin County, NCNC82,03713.1%–

64Caldwell County, NCNC81,10513.0%–

65Buncombe County, NCNC277,41712.9%–

66Wake County, NCNC1,257,23512.9%–

67Rockingham County, NCNC94,19512.8%–

68Forsyth County, NCNC401,71812.7%–

69Alamance County, NCNC186,17712.7%–

70Person County, NCNC40,63612.7%–

71Duplin County, NCNC51,57112.7%–

72Alleghany County, NCNC11,47912.7%–

73Alexander County, NCNC36,95812.6%–

74Surry County, NCNC72,28712.5%–

75Lee County, NCNC70,25812.5%–

76Rowan County, NCNC155,09612.4%–

77Davie County, NCNC45,85512.3%–

78Macon County, NCNC39,23211.9%–

79Ashe County, NCNC27,51411.8%–

80Guilford County, NCNC562,23411.7%–

81Henderson County, NCNC122,37511.6%–

82Hoke County, NCNC56,93911.6%–

83Pender County, NCNC72,11111.6%–

84Craven County, NCNC105,02511.6%–

85Gaston County, NCNC246,55811.6%–

86Brunswick County, NCNC174,70211.4%–

87Cabarrus County, NCNC249,72511.4%–

88Lincoln County, NCNC98,65411.3%–

89New Hanover County, NCNC245,95911.2%–

90Wilkes County, NCNC66,23311.1%–

91Yadkin County, NCNC38,32510.9%–

92Currituck County, NCNC33,15810.9%–

93Randolph County, NCNC149,51610.8%–

94Davidson County, NCNC180,18210.8%–

95Onslow County, NCNC217,17510.7%–

96Catawba County, NCNC170,17210.7%–

97Union County, NCNC267,67410.5%–

98Mecklenburg County, NCNC1,233,3839.8%–

99Stokes County, NCNC46,1269.7%–

100Iredell County, NCNC211,7989.5%–

SHOWING 1–100 OF 100

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UPDATED 2026-06-02 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES