Systems Engineer / Architect salary in Raleigh, NC
Based on 1,701 certified H-1B filings in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Cary, Morrisville, Apex, Holly Springs, Fuquay Varina.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $70,678 |
| 25th | $92,602 |
| 50th (median) | $95,680 |
| 75th | $126,256 |
| 90th | $157,560 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $89,606 | $72,738 | $106,475 | 714 |
| FY2021 | $93,000 | $76,000 | $111,550 | 706 |
| FY2022 | $94,578 | $77,584 | $115,000 | 1,109 |
| FY2023 | $96,720 | $75,816 | $119,018 | 883 |
| FY2024 | $97,406 | $75,816 | $119,018 | 1,277 |
| FY2025 | $94,952 | $70,780 | $120,000 | 1,096 |
| FY2026 | $126,256 | $94,952 | $137,000 | 605 |
Cost of living
Raleigh's median Systems Engineer / Architect salary of $95,680 is worth about $97,500 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Raleigh = 98.2).
Compared with all workers here
All Computer Systems Engineers/Architects in the Raleigh, NC area earned a median of $110,030 in May 2025 (3,620 employed). The H-1B median here is $95,680, 13% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Infosys | $94,952 | 396 |
| Cognizant | $114,504 | 346 |
| Tata Consultancy Services | $70,678 | 140 |
| HCLTech | $125,254 | 121 |
| Cisco Systems | $126,256 | 40 |
| MetLife Group | $114,504 | 25 |
| Wipro | $97,920 | 22 |
| UBS | $130,000 | 21 |
| Truist Bank | $136,350 | 21 |
| Lenovo (United States) | $94,952 | 19 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $64,324 | 24 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $94,952 | 761 |
| Senior · Level III | $126,256 | 519 |
| Expert · Level IV | $147,950 | 368 |
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 | $63,648 | $64,324 | 24 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $94,952 | $94,952 | 761 |
| Senior · Level III | $92,602 | $126,256 | 519 |
| Expert · Level IV | $114,504 | $147,950 | 368 |
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.