Entry-level Electrical Engineer salary in Raleigh, NC
Based on 38 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Morrisville, Wendell, Cary, Apex, Clayton.
Also listed as: Electrical Design Engineer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $65,000 |
| 25th | $78,000 |
| 50th (median) | $85,633 |
| 75th | $95,000 |
| 90th | $110,330 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $69,000 | $63,900 | $94,000 | 17 |
| FY2021 | $95,300 | $83,647 | $104,000 | 40 |
| FY2022 | $76,500 | $67,101 | $103,679 | 24 |
| FY2023 | $75,088 | $74,428 | $85,196 | 19 |
| FY2024 | $79,832 | $75,100 | $88,450 | 35 |
| FY2025 | $83,470 | $78,000 | $95,000 | 26 |
| FY2026 | $92,904 | $75,670 | $101,925 | 12 |
Cost of living
Raleigh's median entry-level Electrical Engineer salary of $85,633 is worth about $87,200 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Raleigh = 98.2).
Compared with all workers here
All Electrical Engineers in the Raleigh, NC area earned a median of $130,240 in May 2025 (1,500 employed). The H-1B median here is $85,633, 34% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina State University | too few | 6 |
| Technosoft Engineering | too few | 6 |
| Microsoft | too few | 5 |
| Eaton | too few | 3 |
| Eskare | too few | 2 |
| Hitachi Energy | too few | 2 |
| LXD Research & Display | too few | 2 |
| Syntegon Technology Services | 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 | $85,633 | 38 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $114,000 | 86 |
| Senior · Level III | $147,500 | 58 |
| Expert · Level IV | $163,000 | 33 |
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 | $77,938 | $85,633 | 38 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $105,997 | $114,000 | 86 |
| Senior · Level III | $113,173 | $147,500 | 58 |
| Expert · Level IV | $130,790 | $163,000 | 33 |
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.