Electrical Engineers Salary
In North Carolina, electrical engineers earn $110,130 at the median, or about $52.95 an hour. The range runs from $67K at the entry level to $203K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $118,854 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,284/month, or 18.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $110K get you in North Carolina?
About electrical engineers
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Electrical engineers pay in North Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $110K locally vs. $121K nationwide, a 9% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,284/month, 19% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Carolina
Entry-level electrical engineers (10th percentile) start around $67K. Mid-career wages sit at $110K. Top earners bring in $203K or more, a $137K spread from bottom to top.
Electrical Engineers salary by metro in North Carolina
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary | $130K | +18% | 1,500 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $129K | +17% | 1,020 |
| Asheville | $123K | +12% | 300 |
| Burlington | $120K | +9% | 30 |
| Greensboro-High Point | $117K | +7% | 440 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | $108K | -2% | 230 |
| Wilmington | $105K | -5% | 350 |
| Rocky Mount | $104K | -5% | 60 |
| Fayetteville | $104K | -6% | 90 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $103K | -6% | 1,770 |
| Goldsboro | $101K | -8% | 50 |
| Greenville | $95K | -14% | 70 |
| Winston-Salem | $91K | -17% | 210 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a electrical engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $110K, rent takes 19% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for electrical engineers in North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new electrical engineers typically earn — is $67K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,008/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 32% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is electrical engineer a high-paying job in North Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $110K locally vs. $121K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for electrical engineers?
North Carolina pays $110K median vs. the U.S. average of $121K — that’s -9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $119K — below the national median.
How much do electrical engineers make in North Carolina?
The median is $110,130 a year, that works out to about $53 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $66,800, and experienced electrical engineers can clear $203,490. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $110K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,742/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 19% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a electrical engineers salary go in North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (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 electrical engineers salary is worth about $118,854 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do electrical engineers 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.