Study: Rowan County private sector wages rank among highest in North Carolina The average yearly wage in Rowan County during the time of the study (2019 Q3 through 2020 Q2) was $44,412, more than $3,000 higher than just three years prior. (Source: Rowan EDC) By David Whisenant | April 21, 2021 at 3:07 PM EDT - Updated April 21 at 3:07 PM ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. (WBTV) - Rowan Economic Development is reporting that Rowan County continues to improve in the North Carolina Department of Commerceâs average private sector wages, according to their most recent report released by the Labor & Economic Analysis Division. The average yearly wage in Rowan County during the time of the study (2019 Q3 through 2020 Q2) was $44,412, more than $3,000 higher than just three years prior. Rowan Countyâs wage is the fourth-highest of the 11 North Carolina counties in the Charlotte metro area, trailing only Mecklenberg ($71,689), Iredell ($51,136) and Union ($46,386) â all Tier III status counties.