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Durham engineer salary

Estimate

Updated March 2025

What engineers earn in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro, with a full breakdown by role.

Typical pay

$122,897

Durham

Top earners

$180,701

Higher end

vs national

+2% vs national

U.S. $120,395

State

NC

North Carolina

Engineers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro earn an estimated $122,897, +2% vs national, with top earners near $180,701. 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 Durham

Estimated pay for each discipline in Durham. Filter the list or open a role for the full picture.

19results

What affects engineering pay in Durham

  • ▹Local market. Durham pay runs +2% 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 Durham, raising or lowering local pay.

Other North Carolina metros

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Engineer salaries in Durham — FAQ

How much do engineers make in Durham?
Engineers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro earn a blended median of $122,897 per year — 2% above the national average — across 10 engineering occupations and 12,890 local jobs. There is no single BLS "engineer" occupation, so this blends the published medians of the engineering occupations reported for the area, weighted by local employment (BLS OEWS May 2024).
What is the highest-paying engineering role in Durham?
Engineering Managers have the highest published median in Durham, at $165,760 per year (BLS OEWS May 2024). Local industry concentration shifts which disciplines command the biggest premium.
How does engineering pay in Durham compare to the national average?
The Durham engineering median of $122,897 is 2% above the national average of $120,395, against a North Carolina statewide blend of $116,968.
Source details

BLS publishes no single "engineer" occupation. This blends the published medians of 10 engineering occupations in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC, weighted by local employment (12,890 jobs).

Benchmarks come from published government wage data via BLS OEWS. Local and emerging-role figures are labeled estimates. Full methodology →

Estimate your salary →All of North Carolina →

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