North Carolina’s mountains, beaches, and vibrant cities rank it among the top states in the country for hitting the road. While smooth summer travels are always the goal, a popped tire, broken engine, or minor collision can dampen a vacation. 

The governor of North Carolina earns an annual salary of a little over $200,000 per year. While it’s only about a fifth or less of what the average partner in a big law firm can expect to bring home and a fiftieth what the football coach at the state’s flagship university rakes in, it’s still good money. In a state where the median household income is around only a third of that amount and millions subsist at or below the poverty line, for most people, getting a job with a 200k salary would feel like winning the lottery.