North Carolina's average software engineer salary of $136,940 is 7.5% below the national mean of $148,100, but it sits close to Florida ($137,010) and South Carolina ($136,240) in the regional market. Virginia is the highest-paying neighboring state at $146,340, while Tennessee is the lowest at $120,560. If you are competing for candidates who have offers from Virginia-based employers, expect to close a meaningful gap in base compensation.
Software engineer salary in North Carolina (2026)
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The average software engineer salary in North Carolina is $136,940 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $134,710 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. North Carolina employs 58,470 software engineers, and the $2,230 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior engineers in North Carolina typically earn around $83,840, while senior specialists reach and exceed the $179,310 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a software engineer hire, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $134,710 |
Average Annual Salary | $136,940 |
vs. National Average | 7.5% below the national mean of $148,100 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 58,470 employed software engineers across North Carolina.
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Software engineer salary percentiles in North Carolina
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $83,840 |
25th Percentile | $104,530 |
75th Percentile | $164,750 |
90th Percentile | $179,310 |
Employers setting an offer for a software engineer in North Carolina should expect a wide range depending on experience level, with entry-level candidates clustering near $83,840 and experienced specialists reaching $179,310 or beyond. The spread from the 25th to the 75th percentile alone spans $60,220, so tying your offer to a clearly defined seniority level will help you avoid both overpaying and losing candidates to better-anchored competitors.
Software engineer salary by city in North Carolina
City | Average Annual Salary |
Durham | $148,390 |
Charlotte | $139,030 |
Raleigh | $136,640 |
Greensboro | $126,400 |
Winston-Salem | $124,370 |
Where you hire within North Carolina meaningfully affects what you need to budget for a software engineer. Durham commands the highest average at $148,390, which is $24,020 above Winston-Salem's $124,370 average and reflects the concentration of research and technology employers in the Research Triangle area. If your team is distributed or remote-flexible, factoring in the candidate's home market will help you set a defensible and competitive offer.
How North Carolina compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
North Carolina | $136,940 | $134,710 |
Virginia | $146,340 | $136,460 |
Florida | $137,010 | $130,980 |
South Carolina | $136,240 | $129,450 |
Georgia | $132,150 | $131,010 |
Tennessee | $120,560 | $122,430 |
North Carolina sits in the middle of the regional market, making it a cost-comparable location relative to most neighboring states for software engineer hiring. Virginia is the clear outlier at a $146,340 average, but North Carolina's $136,940 average is nearly identical to Florida's $137,010 and South Carolina's $136,240, so employers here face similar compensation expectations to those in peer markets. Tennessee offers the lowest average in this group at $120,560, which may be relevant if you are evaluating multi-state hiring strategies.
Frequently asked questions about software engineer salary in North Carolina
How does North Carolina compare to other states for software engineer salary?
What is the average software engineer salary in North Carolina?
The average software engineer salary in North Carolina is $136,940 per year, with a median of $134,710. The $2,230 difference between the two figures indicates that a segment of higher-compensated roles pulls the average slightly above the midpoint of the market. For most hiring decisions, the median of $134,710 is the more practical anchor when setting a baseline offer.
Software Engineer salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 15-1252 (Software Developers).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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