Mechanical Engineer salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Mechanical Engineers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $101,650 a year ($48.87 an hour), based on BLS data for 620 workers.
Pay ranges from $77,410 for the lowest-paid 10% to $164,820 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $104,110. Pay here is 1% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $100,720. There are 1.8 mechanical engineers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $111,540, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for mechanical engineers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,410 | $37.22 |
| 25th percentile | $84,750 | $40.75 |
| Median | $101,650 | $48.87 |
| 75th percentile | $129,310 | $62.17 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $164,820 | $79.24 |
| Average (mean) | $111,540 | $53.63 |
Half of mechanical 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 | $8,470.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,235.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,909.62 |
| Weekly | $1,954.81 |
| Hourly | $48.87 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Mechanical Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $109,540 | 1,260 |
| Asheville, NC | $108,630 | 330 |
| Greenville, NC | $108,340 | 120 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $101,950 | 2,470 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $101,800 | 30 |
| Wilmington, NC | $101,100 | 190 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $100,280 | 2,210 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $100,000 | 1,810 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $99,780 | 50 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $99,700 | 70 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $98,040 | 130 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $96,180 | 30 |
| Burlington, NC | $95,870 | 80 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $95,600 | 480 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $89,960 | 250 |
Highest-paying states for mechanical engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | $157,710 |
| District of Columbia | $133,300 |
| California | $130,900 |
| Delaware | $125,130 |
| Colorado | $124,430 |
| Alaska | $124,340 |
| Maryland | $122,870 |
| Louisiana | $119,540 |
| Massachusetts | $119,300 |
| Wyoming | $117,750 |
See Mechanical 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 |
| Electrical Engineer | $129,030 | $62.03 |
| Civil Engineer | $93,940 | $45.16 |
| 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 17-2141. 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 mechanical engineer make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for mechanical engineers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $101,650 a year, or $48.87 an hour. Pay ranges from $77,410 for the lowest-paid 10% to $164,820 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid mechanical engineers make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of mechanical engineers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $164,820 a year. The top 25% earn $129,310 or more.
What is the starting pay for mechanical engineers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $77,410 a year, and a quarter of mechanical engineers earn $84,750 or less.
How many mechanical engineers work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 620 mechanical engineers are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.