Industrial Engineer Salary in Durham, NC
Industrial Engineers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median $102,890 a year — 0% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $77,617 take-home, or $6,468 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median industrial engineer salary in Durham, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,806
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,379
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,492
- North Carolina income tax$3,597
- Take-home pay$77,617
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.99% state
Industrial Engineer pay by experience in Durham, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,210 | $37.60 | $61,239 | $5,103 |
| 25th percentile | $83,260 | $40.03 | $64,590 | $5,383 |
| Median (50th) | $102,890 | $49.47 | $77,617 | $6,468 |
| 75th percentile | $130,330 | $62.66 | $95,655 | $7,971 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $163,330 | $78.52 | $116,894 | $9,741 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $102,890 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 industrial engineer's $77,617 take-home pay has the buying power of $79,548 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 1.4× the national concentration of industrial engineer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for industrial engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Durham, NC ranks #61 of 125 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beaumont, TX | $123,660 | $95,788 | $106,376 |
| 2 | Baton Rouge, LA | $129,500 | $96,281 | $106,059 |
| 3 | New Orleans, LA | $127,340 | $94,869 | $102,454 |
| 4 | Albuquerque, NM | $132,290 | $96,535 | $101,035 |
| 5 | Fort Collins, CO | $131,870 | $96,305 | $95,231 |
| 6 | Peoria, IL | $117,180 | $85,611 | $93,839 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $131,210 | $100,948 | $90,835 |
| 8 | Decatur, AL | $106,230 | $78,516 | $90,029 |
| 61 | Durham, NC | $102,890 | $77,617 | $79,548 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 125 metros →
Industrial Engineer salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Winston, NC — $97,760
- Raleigh, NC — $104,030
- Charlotte, NC — $102,090
- Asheville, NC — $100,490
- Greensboro, NC — $95,930
- Hickory, NC — $86,640
Frequently asked questions
How much does a industrial engineer make in Durham, NC?
The median industrial engineer salary in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $102,890 a year, or about $49.47 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $83,260 and $130,330.
What is a industrial engineer’s take-home pay in Durham, NC?
On the median $102,890 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $77,617 a year ($6,468 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,597 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Durham, NC a good place to work as a industrial engineer?
Pay here is 0% above the national median of $102,440. Local prices are 2.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $79,548 would in a typical U.S. city. Durham, NC ranks #61 of 125 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a industrial 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) — 23% of a median industrial engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Durham, NC
- Electrical Engineer — $129,030
- Engineers, All Other — $127,710
- Mechanical Engineer — $101,650
- Civil Engineer — $93,940