Expert Systems Engineer / Architect salary in Durham, NC
Based on 86 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Morrisville, Research Triangle Park, Hillsborough, Mebane, Pittsboro.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $129,709 |
| 25th | $129,709 |
| 50th (median) | $143,374 |
| 75th | $157,560 |
| 90th | $170,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $114,600 | $111,446 | $119,288 | 82 |
| FY2021 | $116,000 | $115,794 | $126,815 | 64 |
| FY2022 | $125,000 | $115,918 | $137,605 | 73 |
| FY2023 | $140,509 | $127,578 | $158,660 | 50 |
| FY2024 | $135,000 | $130,416 | $159,524 | 82 |
| FY2025 | $140,000 | $129,709 | $157,560 | 66 |
| FY2026 | $143,374 | $143,374 | $150,677 | 20 |
Cost of living
Durham's median expert Systems Engineer / Architect salary of $143,374 is worth about $146,900 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 $143,374, 14% 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
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Fidelity Investments | $143,374 | 19 |
| Cognizant | $143,374 | 10 |
| Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company | too few | 7 |
| HCLTech | too few | 4 |
| Biogen | too few | 4 |
| Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings | too few | 4 |
| IBM | too few | 3 |
| National Financial Services LLC d/b/a Fidelity Investments | too few | 3 |
| Accenture | too few | 2 |
| Elevance Health | too few | 2 |
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.