Mechanical Engineer Salary in Raleigh, NC
Mechanical Engineers in Raleigh, NC earn a median of $100,000/year, ranging from $81,420 (25th percentile) to $160,170 (90th percentile). Prices in the area were 1.8% below the national level in 2024 (BEA regional price parity 98.2), so at national-average prices that median is equivalent to $101,878.
1Salary Distribution in Raleigh, NC
2Pay Adjusted for Local Prices
Price level: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, regional price parity (all items) for the Raleigh-Cary, NC metropolitan area, 2024. The adjustment covers prices only, not taxes. Use the Salary Calculator to compare two areas.
How Does Raleigh, NC Compare?
| City | Median | Price Level | At National Prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NC (current) | $100,000 | 98.2 | $101,878 |
| Charlotte, NC | $101,950 | 97.3 | $104,727 |
| San Francisco, CA | $161,370 | 115.6 | $139,578 |
| New York, NY | $109,990 | 112.6 | $97,714 |
| Seattle, WA | $126,590 | 111.1 | $113,909 |
| Boston, MA | $119,300 | 108.3 | $110,192 |
4Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Mechanical Engineer salary in Raleigh, NC?
The median Mechanical Engineer salary in Raleigh, NC is $100,000 per year, based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. The 25th percentile is $81,420 and the 90th percentile is $160,170.
How far does a Mechanical Engineer salary go in Raleigh, NC?
Prices in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metropolitan area were 1.8% below the national level in 2024: the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis puts its regional price parity at 98.2, where the United States is 100. Restated at national-average prices, the $100,000 median Mechanical Engineer wage is $101,878.
What is the price level in Raleigh, NC?
The regional price parity for the Raleigh-Cary, NC metropolitan area was 98.2 in 2024 (United States = 100), which is 1.8% below the national level. It is the all-items index published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
What is the Mechanical Engineer salary range in Raleigh, NC?
In Raleigh, NC, Mechanical Engineers earn between $81,420 (25th percentile) and $160,170 (90th percentile), with a median of $100,000 per year.
How many Mechanical Engineer jobs are there in Raleigh, NC?
BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates put employment at 1,810 Mechanical Engineer positions in the Raleigh, NC metropolitan area.
What do Mechanical Engineers earn in Raleigh, NC?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data, Mechanical Engineers in Raleigh, NC earn a median annual wage of $100,000. The middle 50% earn between $81,420 and $124,360. The top 10% earn more than $160,170.There are approximately 1,810 Mechanical Engineers employed in the Raleigh, NC metro area.
How do prices in Raleigh, NC affect a Mechanical Engineer salary?
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis publishes a regional price parity for each metropolitan area. In its words: “Regional price parities (RPPs) measure the differences in price levels across states and metropolitan areas for a given year and are expressed as a percentage of the overall national price level.” For the Raleigh-Cary, NC metropolitan area the 2024 figure is 98.2, which is 1.8% below the national level. Dividing the $100,000 median wage by that price level gives $101,878at national-average prices. The adjustment uses BEA's all-items index and covers prices only, not taxes.
Compare Raleigh, NC with Another City
See a side-by-side comparison of wages and local price levels.
5More Mechanical Engineer Wage Data
Other metro areas for the same occupation: Charlotte, NC ($101,950 median, price level 97.3); San Francisco, CA ($161,370 median, price level 115.6); New York, NY ($109,990 median, price level 112.6). The table above restates each median at national-average prices.
For side-by-side comparisons, try the full city ranking for Mechanical Engineers or the North Carolina state overview.
Underlying wage source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Program. Figures are U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2025 estimates (annual wages: median and 25th, 75th and 90th percentiles; employment) for BLS occupation "Mechanical Engineers" (17-2141) in the metropolitan statistical area named in this source line, retrieved 2026-10-02. BLS area: Raleigh-Cary, NC. Actual salaries may vary based on experience, education, employer size, and specific role. Price levels: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, regional price parities (all items) for 2024, tables last updated February 19, 2026. See our data disclaimer.