Expert Data Engineer salary in Raleigh, NC
Based on 38 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV 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 | $140,275 |
| 25th | $141,861 |
| 50th (median) | $152,000 |
| 75th | $166,454 |
| 90th | $180,204 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 3 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 4 |
| FY2022 | $135,971 | $128,212 | $148,412 | 16 |
| FY2023 | $141,918 | $130,639 | $173,218 | 13 |
| FY2024 | $143,756 | $139,750 | $163,500 | 12 |
| FY2025 | $149,500 | $140,815 | $160,471 | 26 |
| FY2026 | $164,969 | $148,803 | $178,150 | 12 |
Cost of living
Raleigh's median expert Data Engineer salary of $152,000 is worth about $154,900 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 $152,000, 15% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| MetLife Group | too few | 4 |
| Truist Bank | too few | 4 |
| UBS | too few | 2 |
| Corewell Health | too few | 2 |
| Relx | 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.