Electrical Engineers pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $78,280 a year or less, while the top 10% make $213,300 or more. The middle half of electrical engineers in Durham earn between $83,500 and $166,210.
- $78K10th
- $84K25th
- $129KMedian
- $166K75th
- $213K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $129,250 | $10,771 | $62.14 |
| Median | $129,030 | $10,752 | $62.03 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $83,500 | $6,958 | $40.14 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $166,210 | $13,851 | $79.91 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Electrical Engineers pay in Durham vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Electrical engineers in Durham earn 6% more than the North Carolina average ($121,380) and 3% more than the U.S. average ($125,100). At the median the gap is +7% against the U.S. median of $120,630.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $129,250 | $129,030 | $78,280 | $213,300 | 1,020 |
| North Carolina | $121,380 | $110,130 | $66,800 | $203,490 | 7,090 |
| United States | $125,100 | $120,630 | $76,550 | $184,300 | 198,750 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Electrical Engineers salary after taxes in Durham
On the average salary of $129,250, a single filer in Durham takes home about $94,960 a year, or $7,913 a month and $3,652 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Durham a good place for electrical engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Durham area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.6), so the average $129,250 buys what about $132,466 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 3.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Electrical Engineers salary in other North Carolina cities
Durham ranks 2nd of 13 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Raleigh pays the most ($136,080).
- Raleigh$136,080
- Durham$129,250
- Wilmington$127,570
- Greensboro$123,440
- Burlington$118,420
- Charlotte$116,010
- Hickory$113,810
- Asheville$112,330
- Fayetteville$106,760
- Goldsboro$100,810
Highest-paying cities for electrical engineers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($189,370).
- San Jose, CA$189,370
- San Francisco, CA$162,170
- Albuquerque, NM$158,230
- Austin, TX$157,930
- Manchester, NH$149,130
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Electrical Engineers salary in Durham: questions
How much do electrical engineers make an hour in Durham?
$62.14 an hour on average, and $62.03 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level electrical engineers salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $78,280 a year and the 25th percentile is $83,500, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the electrical engineers take-home pay in Durham?
About $94,960 a year ($7,913 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $129,250.
Do electrical engineers earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% more than the U.S. average for this job ($125,100).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-2071; area Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.9%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.31, this job is 2.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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