Electrical Engineer salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Electrical Engineers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $129,030 a year ($62.03 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,020 workers.
Pay ranges from $78,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $213,300 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $120,630. Pay here is 17% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $110,130. There are 3.0 electrical engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $129,250, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for electrical engineers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,280 | $37.64 |
| 25th percentile | $83,500 | $40.14 |
| Median | $129,030 | $62.03 |
| 75th percentile | $166,210 | $79.91 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $213,300 | $102.55 |
| Average (mean) | $129,250 | $62.14 |
Half of electrical engineers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $10,752.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,376.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,962.69 |
| Weekly | $2,481.35 |
| Hourly | $62.03 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Electrical Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $130,240 | 1,500 |
| Asheville, NC | $123,480 | 300 |
| Burlington, NC | $119,650 | 30 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $117,480 | 440 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $107,750 | 230 |
| Wilmington, NC | $105,130 | 350 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $104,230 | 60 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $103,940 | 90 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $103,360 | 1,770 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $103,210 | 1,410 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $101,260 | 50 |
| Greenville, NC | $95,060 | 70 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $91,180 | 210 |
Highest-paying states for electrical engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | $158,520 |
| California | $144,040 |
| District of Columbia | $143,000 |
| New Hampshire | $135,710 |
| Washington | $132,710 |
| Texas | $129,450 |
| Idaho | $129,340 |
| Massachusetts | $127,720 |
| Delaware | $126,970 |
| Alaska | $125,970 |
See Electrical Engineer pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineer | $102,890 | $49.47 |
| Civil Engineer | $93,940 | $45.16 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $101,650 | $48.87 |
| Engineers, All Other | $127,710 | $61.40 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $175,110 | $84.19 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $99,050 | $47.62 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $155,680 | $74.85 |
| Chemical Engineer | $117,440 | $56.46 |
| Environmental Engineer | $107,950 | $51.90 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $116,780 | $56.15 |
| Materials Engineer | $117,000 | $56.25 |
| Surveying and Mapping Technicians | $62,420 | $30.01 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $64,320 | $30.92 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $98,620 | $47.41 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-2071. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a electrical engineer make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for electrical engineers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $129,030 a year, or $62.03 an hour. Pay ranges from $78,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $213,300 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid electrical engineers make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of electrical engineers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $213,300 a year. The top 25% earn $166,210 or more.
What is the starting pay for electrical engineers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $78,280 a year, and a quarter of electrical engineers earn $83,500 or less.
How many electrical engineers work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 1,020 electrical engineers are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.