Electrical Engineer Salary in Durham, NC
Electrical Engineers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median $129,030 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $94,818 take-home, or $7,902 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median electrical engineer salary in Durham, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$19,701
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,000
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,871
- North Carolina income tax$4,640
- Take-home pay$94,818
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 3.99% state
Electrical Engineer pay by experience in Durham, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,280 | $37.63 | $61,285 | $5,107 |
| 25th percentile | $83,500 | $40.14 | $64,749 | $5,396 |
| Median (50th) | $129,030 | $62.03 | $94,818 | $7,902 |
| 75th percentile | $166,210 | $79.91 | $118,747 | $9,896 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $213,300 | $102.55 | $150,721 | $12,560 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $129,030 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 electrical engineer's $94,818 take-home pay has the buying power of $97,178 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 2.3× the national concentration of electrical engineer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for electrical engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Durham, NC ranks #10 of 79 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albuquerque, NM | $163,720 | $116,477 | $121,907 |
| 2 | Manchester, NH | $159,360 | $120,189 | $113,754 |
| 3 | Austin, TX | $145,360 | $110,620 | $112,801 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $187,060 | $123,681 | $112,007 |
| 5 | Chattanooga, TN | $123,840 | $95,911 | $104,862 |
| 6 | Houston, TX | $131,070 | $100,852 | $102,254 |
| 7 | Huntsville, AL | $130,330 | $94,095 | $101,099 |
| 8 | Kennewick, WA | $128,190 | $98,884 | $98,806 |
| 10 | Durham, NC | $129,030 | $94,818 | $97,178 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 79 metros →
Electrical Engineer salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Raleigh, NC — $130,240
- Greensboro, NC — $117,480
- Charlotte, NC — $103,360
Frequently asked questions
How much does a electrical engineer make in Durham, NC?
The median electrical engineer salary in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $129,030 a year, or about $62.03 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $83,500 and $166,210.
What is a electrical engineer’s take-home pay in Durham, NC?
On the median $129,030 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $94,818 a year ($7,902 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,640 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Durham, NC a good place to work as a electrical engineer?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $120,630. Local prices are 2.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $97,178 would in a typical U.S. city. Durham, NC ranks #10 of 79 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a electrical engineer 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) — 18% of a median electrical engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Durham, NC
- Engineers, All Other — $127,710
- Industrial Engineer — $102,890
- Mechanical Engineer — $101,650
- Civil Engineer — $93,940