Architectural and Engineering Managers Salary
The median pay for a architectural and engineering managers in Raleigh-Cary, NC is $169,780/year ($81.62/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $128K at the entry level to $256K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.16), that's roughly $172,963 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,750/month, or 16.6% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $170K get you in Raleigh-Cary?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Raleigh-Cary’s Regional Price Parity (98.16). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About architectural and engineering managers
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What this looks like in Raleigh-Cary
Architectural and engineering managers pay in Raleigh-Cary tracks closely to the national median, $170K locally vs. $171K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,750/month, 17.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 98.16) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for architectural and engineering managers in metros near Raleigh-Cary, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $170K | $175K |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $172K | $177K |
| Greensboro-High Point | $162K | $174K |
| Asheville | $160K | $166K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Raleigh-Cary, NC
Entry-level architectural and engineering managers (10th percentile) start around $128K. Mid-career wages sit at $170K. Top earners bring in $256K or more, a $128K spread from bottom to top.
Architectural and Engineering Managers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Architectural and Engineering Managers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $215K | +26% | 2,270 |
| California | $210K | +23% | 29,630 |
| Massachusetts | $201K | +18% | 7,690 |
| Washington | $190K | +11% | 6,060 |
| District of Columbia | $185K | +8% | 1,290 |
| Colorado | $184K | +7% | 4,900 |
| Delaware | $181K | +6% | 560 |
| New Jersey | $181K | +5% | 4,540 |
| Oregon | $177K | +3% | N/A |
| Virginia | $176K | +3% | 4,390 |
| Rhode Island | $176K | +3% | 370 |
| New York | $176K | +3% | 8,250 |
| Connecticut | $175K | +2% | 4,970 |
| Maryland | $173K | +1% | 5,240 |
| New Hampshire | $172K | +1% | 2,160 |
| Minnesota | $172K | +1% | 4,580 |
| Texas | $171K | +0% | 19,030 |
| Florida | $171K | -0% | 8,710 |
| South Carolina | $169K | -1% | 3,200 |
| North Carolina | $168K | -2% | 6,960 |
| Arizona | $167K | -2% | 4,680 |
| Michigan | $167K | -3% | 14,820 |
| Ohio | $167K | -3% | 9,690 |
| Pennsylvania | $165K | -4% | 9,640 |
| South Dakota | $164K | -4% | 310 |
| Alaska | $164K | -4% | 900 |
| Illinois | $164K | -4% | 8,900 |
| Wyoming | $164K | -5% | N/A |
| Idaho | $163K | -5% | 850 |
| Louisiana | $163K | -5% | 1,840 |
| Alabama | $162K | -5% | 3,790 |
| Nevada | $162K | -6% | 780 |
| Georgia | $161K | -6% | 3,590 |
| Tennessee | $161K | -6% | 3,600 |
| Utah | $161K | -6% | 2,290 |
| Kansas | $160K | -6% | 2,010 |
| Missouri | $158K | -8% | 2,250 |
| Vermont | $158K | -8% | 350 |
| Oklahoma | $157K | -8% | 2,070 |
| Indiana | $156K | -9% | 4,610 |
| Hawaii | $152K | -11% | 1,220 |
| West Virginia | $149K | -13% | 420 |
| Kentucky | $148K | -14% | 1,800 |
| North Dakota | $147K | -14% | 270 |
| Iowa | $147K | -14% | 1,520 |
| Montana | $146K | -15% | 560 |
| Maine | $146K | -15% | 820 |
| Mississippi | $143K | -17% | 860 |
| Wisconsin | $142K | -17% | 4,550 |
| Nebraska | $141K | -18% | 1,510 |
| Arkansas | $141K | -18% | 1,220 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track architectural and engineering managers salary changes
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Related careers in Management
Frequently asked questions
Can a architectural and engineering manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Raleigh-Cary?
Yes — at the median salary of $170K, rent takes 17.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,750/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for architectural and engineering managers in Raleigh-Cary?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new architectural and engineering managers typically earn — is $128K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $7,673/month. At HUD’s $1,750/month FMR, rent would take 23% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is architectural and engineering manager a high-paying job in Raleigh-Cary?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $170K locally vs. $171K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Raleigh-Cary compare to the national average for architectural and engineering managers?
Raleigh-Cary pays $170K median vs. the U.S. average of $171K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.16), the purchasing-power equivalent is $173K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do architectural and engineering managers make in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
The median is $169,780 a year, that works out to about $82 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $127,890, and experienced architectural and engineering managers can clear $256,090. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $170K enough to live in Raleigh-Cary?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,930/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,750/month, which eats 17.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a architectural and engineering managers salary go in Raleigh-Cary?
Raleigh-Cary has a Regional Price Parity of 98.16 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median architectural and engineering managers salary is worth about $172,963 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do architectural and engineering managers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.