Systems Engineer / Architect salary in Durham, NC
Based on 360 certified H-1B filings in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Morrisville, Research Triangle Park, Hillsborough, Mebane, Pittsboro.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $85,530 |
| 25th | $96,055 |
| 50th (median) | $120,000 |
| 75th | $136,852 |
| 90th | $152,035 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $96,262 | $81,099 | $111,446 | 357 |
| FY2021 | $99,362 | $87,500 | $116,000 | 291 |
| FY2022 | $99,112 | $82,285 | $115,918 | 329 |
| FY2023 | $107,610 | $88,000 | $127,171 | 255 |
| FY2024 | $111,467 | $92,539 | $130,416 | 374 |
| FY2025 | $116,500 | $94,952 | $134,000 | 245 |
| FY2026 | $124,349 | $105,425 | $141,159 | 115 |
Cost of living
Durham's median Systems Engineer / Architect salary of $120,000 is worth about $123,000 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Durham = 97.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Computer Systems Engineers/Architects in the Durham, NC area earned a median of $126,300 in May 2025 (2,090 employed). The H-1B median here is $120,000, 5% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Fidelity Investments | $127,954 | 50 |
| Cognizant | $107,619 | 47 |
| HCLTech | $119,195 | 30 |
| Infosys | $96,054 | 21 |
| Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company | $117,500 | 21 |
| IBM | $119,704 | 17 |
| Cisco Systems | too few | 9 |
| Tata Consultancy Services | too few | 7 |
| Compunnel Software Group | too few | 6 |
| Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings | too few | 6 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $76,798 | 12 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $96,054 | 123 |
| Senior · Level III | $119,704 | 108 |
| Expert · Level IV | $143,374 | 86 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $63,440 | $76,798 | 12 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $85,530 | $96,054 | 123 |
| Senior · Level III | $107,619 | $119,704 | 108 |
| Expert · Level IV | $129,709 | $143,374 | 86 |
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.