Senior Data Engineer salary in Raleigh, NC
Based on 26 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III 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 | $123,077 |
| 25th | $125,000 |
| 50th (median) | $130,770 |
| 75th | $140,842 |
| 90th | $172,500 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $91,803 | $89,606 | $105,125 | 12 |
| FY2021 | $105,000 | $101,690 | $109,995 | 11 |
| FY2022 | – | – | – | 8 |
| FY2023 | $120,000 | $113,594 | $123,890 | 11 |
| FY2024 | $130,000 | $119,846 | $137,890 | 23 |
| FY2025 | $132,000 | $125,504 | $145,632 | 19 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 7 |
Cost of living
Raleigh's median senior Data Engineer salary of $130,770 is worth about $133,200 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 $130,770, 1% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| James River Management Company | too few | 2 |
| Truist Bank | too few | 2 |
| Ventois | 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.