Architectural and Engineering Manager Salary in Durham, NC
Architectural and Engineering Managers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median $172,480 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $122,783 take-home, or $10,232 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median architectural and engineering manager salary in Durham, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$30,129
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,694
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,501
- North Carolina income tax$6,373
- Take-home pay$122,783
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 3.99% state
Architectural and Engineering Manager pay by experience in Durham, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $129,900 | $62.45 | $95,378 | $7,948 |
| 25th percentile | $144,960 | $69.69 | $105,071 | $8,756 |
| Median (50th) | $172,480 | $82.92 | $122,783 | $10,232 |
| 75th percentile | $213,380 | $102.59 | $150,776 | $12,565 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $267,480+ | $128.60 | $184,494 | $15,374 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $172,480 buys in Durham, NC
Prices in Durham, NC are 2.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median architectural and engineering manager's $122,783 take-home pay has the buying power of $125,838 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Durham, NC has 1.8× the national concentration of architectural and engineering manager jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for architectural and engineering managers, adjusted for cost of living
Durham, NC ranks #29 of 82 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Peoria, IL | $212,820 | $147,979 | $162,203 |
| 2 | Albuquerque, NM | $215,120 | $150,853 | $157,885 |
| 3 | Manchester, NH | $212,050 | $157,802 | $149,353 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $234,590 | $152,428 | $138,040 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $204,340 | $152,123 | $136,884 |
| 6 | Boulder, CO | $203,420 | $143,204 | $136,123 |
| 7 | Austin, TX | $176,540 | $131,931 | $134,533 |
| 8 | Cincinnati, OH | $177,160 | $128,265 | $134,492 |
| 29 | Durham, NC | $172,480 | $122,783 | $125,838 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 82 metros →
Architectural and Engineering Manager salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Greensboro, NC — $161,720
- Charlotte, NC — $169,960
- Raleigh, NC — $169,780
Frequently asked questions
How much does a architectural and engineering manager make in Durham, NC?
The median architectural and engineering manager salary in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $172,480 a year, or about $82.92 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $144,960 and $213,380.
What is a architectural and engineering manager’s take-home pay in Durham, NC?
On the median $172,480 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $122,783 a year ($10,232 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,373 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Durham, NC a good place to work as a architectural and engineering manager?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $171,270. Local prices are 2.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $125,838 would in a typical U.S. city. Durham, NC ranks #29 of 82 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a architectural and engineering manager afford rent in Durham, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Durham, NC is $1,456 a month ($1,660 for two bedrooms) — 14% of a median architectural and engineering manager’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Durham, NC
- Sales Manager — $190,370
- Natural Sciences Manager — $183,540
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $176,190
- Marketing Manager — $175,160
- Financial Manager — $165,470
- Human Resources Manager — $160,580
- Managers, All Other — $152,090
- Industrial Production Manager — $137,950
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $133,970
- Construction Manager — $119,980
- Facilities Manager — $118,990
- General and Operations Manager — $113,930