Senior Data Engineer salary in Charlotte, NC
Based on 73 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Concord, Fort Mill, Indian Trail, Huntersville, Lancaster.
Also listed as: Database Architect, Data Architect
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $132,101 |
| 25th | $132,101 |
| 50th (median) | $136,282 |
| 75th | $146,169 |
| 90th | $159,294 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 6 |
| FY2021 | $104,390 | $94,708 | $115,001 | 16 |
| FY2022 | $120,000 | $105,000 | $130,000 | 28 |
| FY2023 | $126,575 | $118,082 | $133,354 | 42 |
| FY2024 | $138,500 | $133,500 | $146,350 | 22 |
| FY2025 | $135,425 | $132,101 | $146,200 | 48 |
| FY2026 | $137,000 | $136,282 | $146,169 | 25 |
Cost of living
Charlotte's median senior Data Engineer salary of $136,282 is worth about $140,000 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Charlotte = 97.3).
Compared with all workers here
All Database Architects in the Charlotte, NC area earned a median of $138,870 in May 2025 (1,560 employed). The H-1B median here is $136,282, 2% lower.
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 | $132,101 | 12 |
| DataEconomy | too few | 5 |
| Experis | too few | 5 |
| Ally Bank | too few | 4 |
| Wells Fargo | too few | 3 |
| Popular Bank | too few | 3 |
| Deloitte | too few | 2 |
| AvidXchange | too few | 2 |
| Capgemini America | too few | 2 |
| Eliassen Group | 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 | $96,533 | 15 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $116,418 | 95 |
| Senior · Level III | $136,282 | 73 |
| Expert · Level IV | $156,166 | 76 |
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 | $88,358 | $96,533 | 15 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $116,418 | $116,418 | 95 |
| Senior · Level III | $132,101 | $136,282 | 73 |
| Expert · Level IV | $156,166 | $156,166 | 76 |
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.