Software Engineer salary in Raleigh, NC
Based on 3,803 certified H-1B filings in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Cary, Morrisville, Apex, Fuquay Varina, Holly Springs.
Also listed as: Software Developer, Software Development Engineer, SDE
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $103,426 |
| 25th | $112,500 |
| 50th (median) | $128,600 |
| 75th | $149,178 |
| 90th | $165,031 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $98,300 | $85,992 | $113,000 | 1,607 |
| FY2021 | $105,000 | $91,291 | $125,000 | 1,712 |
| FY2022 | $110,000 | $95,000 | $130,000 | 2,614 |
| FY2023 | $112,194 | $101,421 | $134,753 | 2,233 |
| FY2024 | $114,400 | $103,272 | $137,700 | 2,179 |
| FY2025 | $124,200 | $109,262 | $145,000 | 2,175 |
| FY2026 | $135,000 | $113,547 | $151,665 | 1,628 |
Cost of living
Raleigh's median Software Engineer salary of $128,600 is worth about $131,000 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Raleigh = 98.2).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Developers in the Raleigh, NC area earned a median of $132,770 in May 2025 (12,580 employed). The H-1B median here is $128,600, 3% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Relx | $133,429 | 217 |
| DB Global Technology | $140,000 | 183 |
| MetLife Group | $127,796 | 82 |
| Cisco Systems | $135,800 | 81 |
| Deloitte | $132,550 | 68 |
| UBS | $131,000 | 66 |
| Truist Bank | $136,000 | 59 |
| Amazon | $157,300 | 46 |
| Red Hat | $131,540 | 46 |
| CGI | $113,547 | 41 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $91,707 | 363 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $113,547 | 1,599 |
| Senior · Level III | $140,000 | 914 |
| Expert · Level IV | $164,000 | 583 |
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 | $86,466 | $91,707 | 363 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $109,262 | $113,547 | 1,599 |
| Senior · Level III | $135,408 | $140,000 | 914 |
| Expert · Level IV | $157,248 | $164,000 | 583 |
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.