Senior Engineering Director salary in Raleigh, NC
Based on 11 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Morrisville, Wendell, Cary, Clayton, Apex.
Also listed as: Architectural and Engineering Manager, Manager Hardware Engineering
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $160,000 |
| 25th | $173,837 |
| 50th (median) | $178,000 |
| 75th | $184,709 |
| 90th | $195,000 |
Cost of living
Raleigh's median senior Engineering Director salary of $178,000 is worth about $181,300 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Raleigh = 98.2).
Compared with all workers here
All Architectural and Engineering Managers in the Raleigh, NC area earned a median of $169,780 in May 2025 (1,850 employed). The H-1B median here is $178,000, 5% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Eaton | too few | 4 |
| Itron | 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 | – | 0 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $149,298 | 14 |
| Senior · Level III | $178,000 | 11 |
| Expert · Level IV | too few | 4 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-level · Level II | $135,554 | $149,298 | 14 |
| Senior · Level III | $156,541 | $178,000 | 11 |
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.