Data Engineer salary in Raleigh, NC
Based on 144 certified H-1B filings in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Cary, Morrisville, Apex, Fuquay Varina, Holly Springs.
Also listed as: Database Architect, Data Architect
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $85,000 |
| 25th | $100,000 |
| 50th (median) | $123,077 |
| 75th | $145,614 |
| 90th | $169,081 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $89,803 | $89,606 | $108,375 | 22 |
| FY2021 | $106,000 | $92,852 | $114,464 | 22 |
| FY2022 | $122,809 | $104,500 | $133,956 | 40 |
| FY2023 | $110,000 | $96,208 | $127,774 | 58 |
| FY2024 | $120,000 | $103,737 | $138,500 | 63 |
| FY2025 | $128,759 | $95,472 | $147,076 | 92 |
| FY2026 | $112,100 | $101,188 | $134,351 | 52 |
Cost of living
Raleigh's median Data Engineer salary of $123,077 is worth about $125,400 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Raleigh = 98.2).
Compared with all workers here
All Database Architects in the Raleigh, NC area earned a median of $132,740 in May 2025 (710 employed). The H-1B median here is $123,077, 7% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Relx | $95,937 | 12 |
| MetLife Group | too few | 6 |
| Truist Bank | too few | 6 |
| Eagle Eye Technologies | too few | 5 |
| James River Management Company | too few | 5 |
| Ventois | too few | 5 |
| Deloitte | too few | 4 |
| Corewell Health | too few | 4 |
| Compunnel Software Group | too few | 3 |
| Cognizant | 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 | $82,992 | 25 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $101,560 | 52 |
| Senior · Level III | $130,770 | 26 |
| Expert · Level IV | $152,000 | 38 |
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 | $73,070 | $82,992 | 25 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $101,150 | $101,560 | 52 |
| Senior · Level III | $117,874 | $130,770 | 26 |
| Expert · Level IV | $140,275 | $152,000 | 38 |
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.