Home / By State / North Carolina

Mechanical Engineer Salary in North Carolina

North Carolina pays mechanical engineers a mean of $98,600 per year, 34th in the nation, but unusually balanced across Charlotte, Raleigh-RTP, and the Piedmont manufacturing belt. The state employs 6,300 mechanical engineers, with COL-adjusted purchasing power above the national mean in all major metros.

Data as of May 2026, sourced from BLS OES May 2024 (SOC 17-2141).

NC Mean Wage

$98,600

vs national $101,560 (-2.9%)

NC Employment

6,300

balanced across 5 metros

COL-Adjusted

$102,708

NC COL 96 vs national 100

A diversified labor market, not a single-employer state

The Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics tables for SOC 17-2141, May 2024 release, report a North Carolina annual mean wage of $98,600 for 6,300 employed engineers. The state sits 2.9 percent below the national mean nominally but produces above-national-mean adjusted purchasing power in every major metro after COL math.

North Carolina's ME labor market is unusually balanced relative to states like Washington (Boeing-dominated) or Michigan (auto-dominated). Charlotte is energy and aerospace: Duke Energy headquarters, Honeywell Aerospace, Siemens Energy, Daimler Trucks NA. Raleigh-RTP is biotech and tech R&D: GSK, Biogen, Cisco, IBM, Lenovo, plus the Wake Forest, Duke, and NC State research orbit. Greensboro-High Point is heavy industry: Honda Aero jet engines (Honda's only aircraft-engine production site in the world), Volvo Trucks NA, P and G. The diversification cushions Carolina engineers against the single-industry layoff cycles that bruise Detroit and Seattle.

Metro-by-metro pay

MetroMean WageMEs Employed
Charlotte, Concord, Gastonia$102,4002,100
Raleigh, Cary$105,2001,800
Greensboro, High Point$92,800720
Winston-Salem$90,400480
Durham, Chapel Hill$99,800540

The cost-of-living math, honestly

North Carolina housing costs sit just below the national average. Using Regional Price Parities published by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the state runs around 96, with Raleigh-Cary right at the national average (100) and the Piedmont metros from 91 to 99.

MetroNominal PayCOL IndexAdjusted
Charlotte$102,40099$103,434
Raleigh, Cary$105,200100$105,200
Greensboro, High Point$92,80092$100,870
Winston-Salem$90,40091$99,341
North Carolina state average$98,60096$102,708

PE licensing in North Carolina

The North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors administers PE licensure under North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 89C. The path is ABET-accredited BS, FE exam, four years of qualifying experience under a licensed PE, then the PE exam. North Carolina's application fee is $100, biennial renewal is $60, and the NCEES PE exam fee runs around $375. PE licensure adds $12,000 to $20,000 in the Charlotte consulting and Duke Energy markets. In biotech, hardware, and aerospace, PE licensure adds little compensation premium.

Frequently asked questions

How much do mechanical engineers make in North Carolina?+
North Carolina mechanical engineers earn a mean of $98,600 per year and a median hourly wage of $47.40, per BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for May 2024. The state employs 6,300 mechanical engineers across the Charlotte-Raleigh-Triangle corridor and the Piedmont manufacturing belt.
Which North Carolina metro pays mechanical engineers the most?+
Raleigh-Cary leads at a mean of $105,200 for 1,800 employed engineers, anchored by Research Triangle Park biotech and tech R&D. Charlotte follows at $102,400 for 2,100 engineers, with the larger absolute headcount in energy (Duke Energy) and aerospace (Honeywell Aerospace).
Is North Carolina mechanical engineering pay worth it after cost of living?+
Yes. Raleigh-Cary's $105,200 mean at COL 100 produces $105,200 in adjusted purchasing power. Charlotte at COL 99 adjusts to $103,434. Greensboro at COL 92 adjusts to $100,870. All four major NC metros produce real purchasing power above the BLS national mean of $101,560, which is rare for sub-$110K nominal states.
Where in North Carolina are mechanical engineering jobs concentrated?+
Roughly 6,300 mechanical engineers work in North Carolina. Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia is the largest at 2,100, followed by Raleigh-Cary at 1,800, Greensboro-High Point at 720, Durham-Chapel Hill at 540, and Winston-Salem at 480. The state has unusually balanced employment across multiple metros rather than concentration in one.
Do mechanical engineers need a PE license to work in North Carolina?+
Most product engineering, hardware, and research roles do not require a PE license. The license is mandatory for engineers who sign off on building HVAC, structural mechanical, or public infrastructure designs under North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 89C. The North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors administers licensing. The NC application fee is $100, biennial renewal is $60, and the NCEES PE exam fee runs around $375.
What is the entry-level mechanical engineer salary in North Carolina?+
Entry-level mechanical engineers in North Carolina (0 to 2 years experience) typically earn $59,000 to $72,000. Raleigh-RTP biotech and tech offers cluster around $68,000 to $80,000 base. Charlotte energy and Honeywell Aerospace offers cluster around $64,000 to $76,000 base. Greensboro and Winston-Salem manufacturing offers cluster around $58,000 to $70,000 base, with stronger benefits and lower housing costs offsetting the gap.

Related pages

All 50 States Ranked

Parent hub: every state plus DC, ranked.

Georgia

Atlanta logistics, Augusta nuclear, Savannah aerospace.

Medical Devices

RTP medical-device cluster pay bands.

Engineering Services

Consulting industry pay bands.

PE License By State

Fees and timeline for all 50 state PE boards.

Salary Calculator

Personalise the estimate by your experience, industry, and degree.

Independent salary reference. Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Not affiliated with the BLS, any employer, or any professional engineering organization. Individual salaries vary based on experience, location, employer, and negotiation.

Updated 2026-05-11