Senior Computer Hardware Engineer salary in Raleigh, NC

Based on 11 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Morrisville.

Also listed as: Hardware Development Engineer

Median salary$163,361
Middle 50%$162.3k–$169.6k
vs. all levels here+11%comparison median $146,637
Filings11FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $134,901 and $177,900.
PercentileSalary
10th$137,634
25th$162,303
50th (median)$163,361
75th$169,586
90th$177,900

Cost of living

Raleigh's median senior Computer Hardware Engineer salary of $163,361 is worth about $166,400 at national average prices.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Raleigh = 98.2).

Compared with all workers here

All Computer Hardware Engineers in the Raleigh, NC area earned a median of $130,540 in May 2025 (310 employed). The H-1B median here is $163,361, 25% higher.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.

Employers filing at this level

EmployerMedianFilings
Microsofttoo few9

Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.

By experience level

Wage levelMedianFilings
Entry-level · Level I – 0
Mid-level · Level II $142,504 17
Senior · Level III $163,361 11
Expert · Level IV too few 3

Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.

Minimum H-1B salary by level

Wage levelPrevailing wage (most common)Median offered salaryFilings
Mid-level · Level II$116,334$142,50417
Senior · Level III$137,634$163,36111

The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.