Entry-level Mechanical Engineer salary in Raleigh, NC
Based on 19 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I 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 | $70,346 |
| 25th | $70,346 |
| 50th (median) | $74,000 |
| 75th | $81,224 |
| 90th | $91,832 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $65,500 | $65,500 | $65,500 | 19 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 8 |
| FY2022 | $60,000 | $60,000 | $60,000 | 18 |
| FY2023 | $60,000 | $60,000 | $67,704 | 16 |
| FY2024 | $67,750 | $67,750 | $70,275 | 15 |
| FY2025 | $73,000 | $70,346 | $81,016 | 17 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 2 |
Cost of living
Raleigh's median entry-level Mechanical Engineer salary of $74,000 is worth about $75,400 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 $74,000, 26% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| NuPulseCV | too few | 3 |
| Absolent | too few | 2 |
| North Carolina State University | too few | 2 |
| Syntegon Technology Services | too few | 2 |
| Technosoft Engineering | 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.