Expert Systems Engineer / Architect salary in Raleigh, NC
Based on 368 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Cary, Morrisville, Apex, Holly Springs, Fuquay Varina.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $114,504 |
| 25th | $114,504 |
| 50th (median) | $147,950 |
| 75th | $157,560 |
| 90th | $178,473 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $109,017 | $106,475 | $120,689 | 172 |
| FY2021 | $111,550 | $108,638 | $126,027 | 161 |
| FY2022 | $117,187 | $111,550 | $131,963 | 266 |
| FY2023 | $119,018 | $117,187 | $140,000 | 240 |
| FY2024 | $119,018 | $119,018 | $140,235 | 299 |
| FY2025 | $123,968 | $114,504 | $157,560 | 262 |
| FY2026 | $157,560 | $157,560 | $160,488 | 106 |
Cost of living
Raleigh's median expert Systems Engineer / Architect salary of $147,950 is worth about $150,700 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 $147,950, 34% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cognizant | $150,000 | 96 |
| HCLTech | $136,440 | 41 |
| MetLife Group | $114,504 | 20 |
| Infosys | $114,504 | 16 |
| UBS | too few | 7 |
| Lenovo (United States) | too few | 6 |
| Accenture | too few | 5 |
| Gilead Sciences | too few | 5 |
| Truist Bank | too few | 5 |
| Zifo Technologies | too few | 5 |
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.