North Carolina Median
$100,720
per year
Hourly Rate
$48.42
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-3% vs US median
US median $104,110
State Rank
#29 of 51
9,560 employed here
How much does a Mechanical Engineer make in North Carolina?
Mechanical Engineers in North Carolina take home a median of $100,720 annually — roughly $48.42 an hour — which runs 3% below the national median of $104,110.
Within North Carolina, entry-level pay starts around $71,260 while the top 10% make $155,550 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $82,490 and $125,050 a year.
Mechanical Engineer salary range in North Carolina
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $71,260 | $34.26 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $82,490 | $39.66 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $100,720 | $48.42 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $125,050 | $60.12 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $155,550 | $74.78 |
|
How North Carolina compares
North Carolina ranks 29th out of 51 states and territories for Mechanical Engineer pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Mechanical Engineer salary in other states
New Mexico $157,710District of Columbia $133,300California $130,900Delaware $125,130Colorado $124,430Alaska $124,340Maryland $122,870Louisiana $119,540Massachusetts $119,300Wyoming $117,750Rhode Island $116,230Texas $112,410New Jersey $112,300Washington $110,430Vermont $107,330Connecticut $105,090Michigan $104,890South Carolina $104,580Virginia $104,180New Hampshire $103,660Oregon $103,470Illinois $102,680Nevada $102,680Utah $102,500New York $102,440Maine $102,430Oklahoma $101,850Kentucky $101,050Georgia $100,620Arizona $100,270Alabama $100,230Florida $99,980Indiana $99,590Tennessee $99,550Missouri $99,330Minnesota $99,140Ohio $99,100Hawaii $98,740Mississippi $98,000Pennsylvania $97,920Iowa $97,700West Virginia $97,390Wisconsin $95,870Montana $94,190Idaho $93,190South Dakota $88,380Nebraska $88,060North Dakota $86,330Kansas $86,260Arkansas $80,180
Working as a Mechanical Engineer in North Carolina
Nationally, about 297,000 people work as Mechanical Engineers in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare North Carolina pay ($100,720) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Mechanical Engineer make in North Carolina?
The median Mechanical Engineer salary in North Carolina is $100,720 per year, or about $48.42 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $71,260 at the entry level to $155,550 for the top 10% of earners.
How does North Carolina pay compare to the national average?
North Carolina pays Mechanical Engineers about 3% less than the national median of $104,110. North Carolina ranks 29th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is North Carolina a good state for Mechanical Engineers?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $100,720 a year. About 9,560 Mechanical Engineers are employed in North Carolina. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in North Carolina?
The highest-paying occupations in North Carolina include Surgeon, All Other ($398,410), Dermatologist ($367,350), Emergency Medicine Physician ($339,350), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Mechanical Engineer salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.