Industrial Engineer salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Industrial Engineers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $102,890 a year ($49.47 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,150 workers.
Pay ranges from $78,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $163,330 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $102,440. Pay here is 4% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $99,310. There are 3.3 industrial engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $112,580, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for industrial engineers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,210 | $37.60 |
| 25th percentile | $83,260 | $40.03 |
| Median | $102,890 | $49.47 |
| 75th percentile | $130,330 | $62.66 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $163,330 | $78.53 |
| Average (mean) | $112,580 | $54.13 |
Half of industrial 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 | $8,574.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,287.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,957.31 |
| Weekly | $1,978.65 |
| Hourly | $49.47 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Industrial Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $104,030 | 1,710 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $102,090 | 2,680 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $101,500 | 1,060 |
| Asheville, NC | $100,490 | 500 |
| Wilmington, NC | $99,540 | 360 |
| Greenville, NC | $98,880 | 280 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $97,760 | 750 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $97,220 | 50 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $95,930 | 1,050 |
| Burlington, NC | $95,870 | 190 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $92,840 | 380 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $92,080 | 160 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $87,170 | 30 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $86,640 | 670 |
Highest-paying states for industrial engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $156,510 |
| Washington | $129,050 |
| Oregon | $128,290 |
| New Mexico | $128,090 |
| California | $124,600 |
| Hawaii | $123,800 |
| Louisiana | $122,920 |
| Wyoming | $122,070 |
| Delaware | $120,190 |
| Maryland | $119,930 |
See Industrial Engineer pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical Engineer | $129,030 | $62.03 |
| 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 17-2112. 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 industrial engineer make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for industrial engineers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $102,890 a year, or $49.47 an hour. Pay ranges from $78,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $163,330 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid industrial engineers make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of industrial engineers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $163,330 a year. The top 25% earn $130,330 or more.
What is the starting pay for industrial engineers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $78,210 a year, and a quarter of industrial engineers earn $83,260 or less.
How many industrial engineers work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 1,150 industrial engineers are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.