Mechanical Engineer salary in Raleigh, NC
Based on 76 certified H-1B filings in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Cary, Apex, Morrisville, Holly Springs, Wendell.
Also listed as: Mechanical Design Engineer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $71,750 |
| 25th | $85,862 |
| 50th (median) | $99,000 |
| 75th | $112,433 |
| 90th | $125,419 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $65,500 | $65,500 | $85,650 | 34 |
| FY2021 | $78,000 | $72,500 | $91,700 | 33 |
| FY2022 | $72,800 | $60,000 | $92,000 | 49 |
| FY2023 | $74,502 | $60,000 | $86,717 | 32 |
| FY2024 | $82,368 | $67,750 | $115,784 | 38 |
| FY2025 | $90,000 | $80,758 | $106,444 | 47 |
| FY2026 | $99,548 | $89,598 | $114,000 | 29 |
Cost of living
Raleigh's median Mechanical Engineer salary of $99,000 is worth about $100,900 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Raleigh = 98.2).
Compared with all workers here
All Mechanical Engineers in the Raleigh, NC area earned a median of $100,000 in May 2025 (1,810 employed). The H-1B median here is $99,000, 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.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Siemens | too few | 6 |
| Heidelberg Instruments | too few | 3 |
| Hitachi Energy | too few | 3 |
| Intellectt | too few | 3 |
| NuPulseCV | too few | 3 |
| Absolent | too few | 2 |
| Axiscades | too few | 2 |
| Buhler | too few | 2 |
| Deere & Company | too few | 2 |
| Eaton | 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 | $74,000 | 19 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $95,000 | 31 |
| Senior · Level III | $109,787 | 10 |
| Expert · Level IV | $124,051 | 13 |
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 | $70,346 | $74,000 | 19 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $88,587 | $95,000 | 31 |
| Senior · Level III | $101,379 | $109,787 | 10 |
| Expert · Level IV | $116,896 | $124,051 | 13 |
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.