Charlotte engineer salary
EstimateUpdated March 2025
What engineers earn in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro, with a full breakdown by role.
Typical pay
$121,933
Charlotte
Top earners
$162,546
Higher end
vs national
+1% vs national
U.S. $120,395
State
NC
North Carolina
Engineers in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro earn an estimated $121,933, +1% vs national, with top earners near $162,546. See the full breakdown by role below, or estimate your own total compensation — the number sharpens as local engineers contribute.
Engineering pay by role in Charlotte
Estimated pay for each discipline in Charlotte. Filter the list or open a role for the full picture.
| Engineering role | Pay band (10th–90th) | Median | 90th pct | Data | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering Manager Architecture & Engineering | $167,590 | $239,200 | Verified | ||
| Software Engineer Software & Technology | $132,100 | $168,570 | Verified | ||
| Data Engineer Emerging | $132,100 | $168,570 | Estimate | ||
| AI Engineer Emerging | $132,100 | $168,570 | Estimate | ||
| Machine Learning Engineer Emerging | $132,100 | $168,570 | Estimate | ||
| Cloud Engineer Emerging | $132,100 | $168,570 | Estimate | ||
| DevOps Engineer Emerging | $132,100 | $168,570 | Estimate | ||
| Nuclear Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $128,150 | $172,430 | Verified | ||
| Aerospace Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $125,780 | $206,660 | Verified | ||
| Systems Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $125,340 | $178,930 | Estimate | ||
| Robotics Engineer Emerging | $125,340 | $178,930 | Estimate | ||
| Entry-Level Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $125,340 | $178,930 | Estimate | ||
| Senior Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $125,340 | $178,930 | Estimate | ||
| Biomedical Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $120,850 | $167,520 | Verified | ||
| Electrical Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $114,450 | $182,430 | Verified | ||
| Chemical Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $109,940 | $172,850 | Verified | ||
| Industrial Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $102,110 | $137,030 | Verified | ||
| Materials Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $102,080 | $157,610 | Verified | ||
| Mechanical Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $100,990 | $150,300 | Verified | ||
| Civil Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $100,040 | $140,180 | Verified | ||
| Environmental Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $95,850 | $140,380 | Verified |
- Verified
Engineering Manager
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$167,590
90th
$239,200
View details - Verified
Software Engineer
Software & Technology
Median
$132,100
90th
$168,570
View details - Estimate
Data Engineer
Emerging
Median
$132,100
90th
$168,570
View details - Estimate
AI Engineer
Emerging
Median
$132,100
90th
$168,570
View details - Estimate
Machine Learning Engineer
Emerging
Median
$132,100
90th
$168,570
View details - Estimate
Cloud Engineer
Emerging
Median
$132,100
90th
$168,570
View details - Estimate
DevOps Engineer
Emerging
Median
$132,100
90th
$168,570
View details - Verified
Nuclear Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$128,150
90th
$172,430
View details - Verified
Aerospace Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$125,780
90th
$206,660
View details - Estimate
Systems Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$125,340
90th
$178,930
View details - Estimate
Robotics Engineer
Emerging
Median
$125,340
90th
$178,930
View details - Estimate
Entry-Level Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$125,340
90th
$178,930
View details - Estimate
Senior Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$125,340
90th
$178,930
View details - Verified
Biomedical Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$120,850
90th
$167,520
View details - Verified
Electrical Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$114,450
90th
$182,430
View details - Verified
Chemical Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$109,940
90th
$172,850
View details - Verified
Industrial Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$102,110
90th
$137,030
View details - Verified
Materials Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$102,080
90th
$157,610
View details - Verified
Mechanical Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$100,990
90th
$150,300
View details - Verified
Civil Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$100,040
90th
$140,180
View details - Verified
Environmental Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$95,850
90th
$140,380
View details
What affects engineering pay in Charlotte
- ▹Local market. Charlotte pay runs +1% vs national for the typical engineer, usually above the North Carolina statewide estimate.
- ▹Industry concentration.A metro's dominant employers (tech, defense, energy, healthcare) shift which engineering disciplines command a premium locally.
- ▹Experience & specialization. Seniority and in-demand skills swing pay well beyond the metro median — see the role table above and the calculator.
- ▹Remote work.Remote offers may anchor to a company's HQ market rather than Charlotte, raising or lowering local pay.
Other North Carolina metros
Engineer salaries in Charlotte — FAQ
How much do engineers make in Charlotte?
What is the highest-paying engineering role in Charlotte?
How does engineering pay in Charlotte compare to the national average?
Source details
BLS publishes no single "engineer" occupation. This blends the published medians of 12 engineering occupations in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC, weighted by local employment (32,960 jobs).
Benchmarks come from published government wage data via BLS OEWS. Local and emerging-role figures are labeled estimates. Full methodology →