Mechanical Engineers in North Carolina. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
The median Mechanical Engineer in North Carolina earned $100,990 in 2024, about 3.5% below the US median of $104,651. That gap is smaller than what you see for most occupations where a state trails the national figure. The average wage of $106,210 sits above the median, which tells us a portion of senior engineers and specialists pull the average upward.
The spread between the lowest and highest earners is wide. At the 10th percentile, the figure was $68,340. At the 90th, it was $157,710. Top earners in North Carolina make roughly 2.3 times what those starting out make. That kind of range usually reflects real differences in experience, sub-specialty, and what sector someone works in, whether that is aerospace, industrial equipment, energy, or something else entirely.
North Carolina's cost of living runs about 5% below the national baseline. On that basis, a $100,990 wage here buys closer to $106,300 in national-dollar terms. The nominal gap with the US median nearly closes once you account for what the money actually buys.
BLS projects employment for Mechanical Engineers to grow 9% between 2024 and 2034, a pace it classifies as faster than average. That outlook applies nationally, and the North Carolina figure is consistent with the broader growth pattern in states with a mix of manufacturing and advanced technology employers.
Salary distribution
Where North Carolina mechanical engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $82,490 and $125,050, with a median of $100,720.
Mechanical Engineers in North Carolina: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 292 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $96,000. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 55 | $72,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 113 | $89,440 |
| Level III — experienced | 48 | $107,235 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 64 | $123,655 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Mechanical Engineers in North Carolina. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cummins Inc. | Combustion and Emissions Systems Engineer | 18 | $99,286 |
| VOLVO GROUP NORTH AMERICA, LLC | Lead Supplier Quality Engineer For EVB | 12 | $121,695 |
| Cyient, Inc. | Analysis Engineer Specialist | 11 | $85,800 |
| B/E Aerospace, Inc. | Engineer II, Reliability Engineering | 9 | $101,000 |
| TE Connectivity Corporation | Staff Manufacturing & Process Development Engineer | 9 | $120,000 |
| General Motors | Chief Engineer Sports Car Racing | 8 | $134,175 |
| CAPGEMINI AMERICA INC | Mechanical Engineer 2 | 7 | $110,000 |
| QUEST GLOBAL SERVICES- N.A., INC. | Design Engineer | 6 | $78,500 |
| SEGULA TECHNOLOGIES USA, INC. | Manufacturing Product Preparation Engineer | 6 | $102,960 |
| SIEMENS ENERGY, INC. | Component Engineer | 6 | $113,903 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Process Engineer, Mechanical at LInamar Light Metals - MR$97,868Mills RiverWage Level IIDecided —I-201-26084-728896
- Manufacturing Engineer at Tek Labs, Inc.$83,096WhitakersWage Level IIDecided Mar 25, 2026I-200-26077-712427
- Combustion and Emissions Systems Engineer at Cummins Inc.$88,587WHITAKERSWage Level IIDecided Mar 24, 2026I-200-26076-707758
- Staff R&D/Product Development Engineer at TE Connectivity Corporation$120,000Winston-SalemWage Level IVDecided Mar 24, 2026I-200-26077-710701
- R&D Mechanical Design Engineer at Buhler Inc.$89,598CaryDecided Mar 23, 2026I-200-26075-706784
- Mechanical Generator Engineer at ANDRITZ HYDRO Corp.$121,139CharlotteWage Level IVDecided Mar 17, 2026I-200-26069-692950
- Technical Service Technician at SIEMENS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS USA, INC.$112,877CARYWage Level IIIDecided Mar 11, 2026I-200-26063-679275
- Industry Process Expert at Dassault Systemes Americas Corp$115,102CharlotteWage Level IIIDecided Mar 10, 2026I-200-26062-675193
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Where do you stand?
Get an instant percentile reading. Anonymous, no signup.
Aggregate unlocks once 5 readers have shared a salary for this role and state.
Mechanical Engineers pay by experience level in North Carolina
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Mechanical Engineers specialties in North Carolina
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 130 certified offers. The most common variant is Mechanical Engineer at a median of $90,000.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineer | CAPGEMINI AMERICA INC | 47 | $90,000 |
| Engineer II, Reliability Engineering | B/E Aerospace, Inc. | 24 | $102,032 |
| Design Engineer | Cyient, Inc. | 13 | $89,000 |
| Mechanical Design Engineer | Alten Technology USA, Inc. | 11 | $89,440 |
| Manufacturing Engineer | Cummins Inc. | 7 | $94,453 |
| Sr. Process Engineer | VALIDIT SOLUTIONS LLC | 6 | $113,414 |
| Product Engineer | MANN HUMMEL Filtration Technology US LLC | 5 | $93,000 |
| Project Engineer | Royal Appliance Manufacturing Company | 5 | $92,900 |
| Analysis Engineer Specialist | Cyient, Inc. | 3 | $70,890 |
| Senior Test Engineer | SEGULA TECHNOLOGIES USA, INC. | 3 | $108,160 |
| Application Engineer | Absolent Inc. | 3 | $75,858 |
| Component Engineer | SIEMENS ENERGY, INC. | 3 | $114,665 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Mechanical Engineers in North Carolina, by industry
Median offered wage across 289 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Manufacturing leads with a median of $100,857.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | Cummins Inc. | 138 | $100,857 |
| Professional services | QUEST GLOBAL SERVICES- N.A., INC. | 77 | $92,872 |
| Technology and software | Cyient, Inc. | 53 | $85,862 |
| Retail and wholesale | Biesse America Inc. | 8 | $100,915 |
| Energy and utilities | HITACHI ENERGY USA INC. | 5 | $112,683 |
| Transportation and logistics | AAR Aircraft Services, LLC | 3 | $108,825 |
| Media and entertainment | Penske Racing, Inc. | 3 | $135,000 |
| Education | North Carolina State University | 2 | $70,543 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in North Carolina over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.9 / 5
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge
- 4.7 / 5
Mathematics
Knowledge
- 4.6 / 5
Design
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Mechanical
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Physics
Knowledge
- 4.2 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, or computer-generated reports.
- 02
Research, design, evaluate, install, operate, or maintain mechanical products, equipment, systems or processes to meet requirements.
- 03
Confer with engineers or other personnel to implement operating procedures, resolve system malfunctions, or provide technical information.
- 04
Develop, coordinate, or monitor all aspects of production, including selection of manufacturing methods, fabrication, or operation of product designs.
- 05
Investigate equipment failures or difficulties to diagnose faulty operation and recommend remedial actions.
- 06
Develop or test models of alternate designs or processing methods to assess feasibility, sustainability, operating condition effects, potential new applications, or necessity of modification.
- 07
Recommend the use of utility or energy services that minimize carbon footprints.
- 08
Specify system components or direct modification of products to ensure conformance with engineering design, performance specifications, or environmental regulations.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+9.0%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
Sponsored
Build the skills employers list for Mechanical Engineers
Online courses from licensed providers. We may earn a commission when you enroll. The commission does not influence our rankings or wage data.
Explore coursesTop metros in North Carolina
Metro-level salary data for mechanical engineers in major North Carolina metropolitan areas.
Compare Mechanical Engineers pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare North Carolina with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Mechanical Engineers in North Carolina?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Mechanical Engineers in North Carolina is $100,720.
- How does North Carolina compare to the national median for Mechanical Engineers?
- The North Carolina median is -6.4% versus the BLS national figure of $107,639.
- What is the salary range for Mechanical Engineers in North Carolina?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $71,260 and the 90th-percentile at $155,550, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Mechanical Engineers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 9.0% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Mechanical Engineers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.