Weatherby Healthcare, a medical staffing company, will invest $7.6 million and plans to add 155 jobs by 2029 with an expansion in Raleigh. The average salary for the jobs, primarily in sales and recruiting roles, will be $204,640, more than twice the current average wage in Wake County of $74,866.

The expansion means Weatherby will move from a leased space in Durham to a new space in Raleigh, according to the Department of Commerce. Weatherby currently has 374 total employees statewide.

A subsidiary of Utah-based CHG Healthcare, Weatherby is a staffing agency that works with medical practices, hospitals and healthcare facilities to coordinate short-term contracts for healthcare professionals to cover for temporary absences due to training, vacation or medical leave.

To help facilitate the expansion, the state will provide about $2.1 million in incentives over 12 years. Wake County and the city of Raleigh will contribute an additional $120,324 in local incentives. Weatherby will be expected to invest about $3.9 million in real property and $3.7 million in personal property by Dec. 31, 2025, and hire an additional 155 workers by 2029, to get the state and local incentives.

“We’re thrilled to partner with the governor’s office on this project, which will not only give our current employees a vibrant, new, state-of-the-art workspace but also allow us to continue to grow and bring more high-paying jobs to the great state of North Carolina,” said Michael Depaolis, senior vice president of sales for Weatherby, in a statement. “We pride ourselves on being a great place to work, and we’re excited to share our award-winning, people-centric culture with the state’s top talent.”

Although salaries will vary by position, they could create a potential payroll impact of more than $31.7 million each year for the region, according to the state. The state expects a 134% return on its investment, meaning for every dollar of cost, the state will receive $2.34 in state revenue. The project is estimated to grow the state’s economy by $433.5 million.

Weatherby currently works out of a 37,000-square-foot Durham office. The company visited potential offices in Durham but could not find an appropriate space. The company reported it found a 45,000-square-foot location in Raleigh that meets its requirements. The company did an analysis of employee “drive times” to the new facility and hopes to retain all of its current employees through the move, according to the state.

Weatherby also considered an existing location in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, before deciding on Raleigh, according to the state.