Are you considering exploring software engineering careers in North Carolina, or looking to benchmark your current compensation?
North Carolina has been recognized as America’s “top state for business” and ranked ninth in the U.S. for tech job growth from 2016 to 2021, with tech employment forecast to grow by seven percent over the next five years.
We have conducted a comprehensive analysis of 672 software engineering positions across North Carolina to provide insights into the Software Engineer salary landscape. This article details the software engineer salary in North Carolina for 2025, exploring how much software engineers make and the key factors that influence compensation as revealed by our salary survey data.
Average Software Engineer Salary in North Carolina
The median Software Engineer salary in North Carolina is $125,425 USD per year or $60.30 USD per hour. This figure provides insight into software engineer earnings in North Carolina and serves as a benchmark for Software Engineer pay in the state.
Salary Range Overview
Factors Influencing Software Engineer Salary
Educational Level
The education story in North Carolina software engineering is fascinating and might surprise you. While the conventional wisdom suggests “get the highest degree possible,” the data reveals a more nuanced reality:
The data reveals something remarkable: while PhD holders command the highest salaries at over $208,000 annually, associate degree holders actually out-earn master’s degree holders by more than $45,000 per year. This suggests that specialized technical skills and certifications can be incredibly valuable in North Carolina’s tech market, particularly in areas where practical experience trumps theoretical knowledge.
But what if you’re already considering a master’s degree? The reality is that while master’s degree holders earn solid salaries, the ROI calculation becomes complex when you factor in the opportunity cost and student loans. The sweet spot appears to be targeted certifications and specialized skills that directly address market needs.
The job market heavily favors bachelor’s degree holders, with over 80% of positions requiring this as the minimum qualification. However, the surprisingly high compensation for associate degree holders suggests that alternative pathways through bootcamps, certifications, and specialized training programs can be highly effective for entering North Carolina’s software engineering market.
Years of Experience
The progression tells a compelling career story: the most significant salary acceleration occurs between years 2-5, with particularly strong growth at the 4-year mark where salaries jump to over $141,000. This pattern suggests that North Carolina employers highly value mid-level engineers who can work independently and mentor junior developers.
| Years of Experience | Percentage of Jobs | Number of Positions |
|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 3.71% | 19 |
| 1 year | 2.73% | 14 |
| 2 years | 11.52% | 59 |
| 3 years | 17.19% | 88 |
| 4 years | 12.50% | 64 |
| 5 years | 22.66% | 116 |
| 6 years | 6.84% | 35 |
| 7 years | 7.42% | 38 |
| 8 years | 6.45% | 33 |
| 9 years | 0.98% | 5 |
| 10+ years | 8.01% | 41 |
We know job searching can be overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to time your career moves optimally. The data shows that patience pays off – those extra 1-2 years of experience can translate to $20,000+ salary increases, making it worthwhile to build deeper expertise rather than jumping ship too early.
Seniority Level
The progression from entry-level to manager represents a 155% increase in compensation, highlighting the tremendous value of leadership capabilities in the North Carolina software engineering field. Interestingly, senior-level individual contributors often earn more than executives, suggesting that deep technical expertise is highly valued alongside management skills.
The data provides insights into potential career advancement paths, including roles such as technical lead, engineering manager, and senior software architect. The BLS estimates that between 2020 and 2030, software development occupations are projected to experience employment growth of 23.6% – much faster than any occupation overall.
Work Arrangement
One of the most relevant factors for today’s job market is work arrangement flexibility:
| Work Arrangement | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Number of Positions |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | $144,693 | 231 |
| Remote | $125,810 | 108 |
| Onsite | $125,033 | 332 |
Here’s what’s fascinating: hybrid positions offer the highest compensation at nearly $145,000 annually – about $19,000 more than fully remote or onsite roles. This premium likely reflects several factors:
- Companies offering hybrid work often have more mature, well-funded operations
- Hybrid roles may require specialized skills that justify higher compensation
- These positions balance flexibility with collaboration needs, attracting top talent
- Companies may pay a premium to attract candidates willing to split time between office and home
For software engineers considering their next move, this data suggests that negotiating for hybrid arrangements could be financially advantageous beyond just work-life balance considerations.
Location
Top North Carolina Cities for Software Engineer Compensation
| City | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Average Hourly Rate (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Chapel Hill | $172,500 | $82.93 |
| Durham | $165,989 | $79.80 |
| Raleigh | $140,764 | $67.68 |
| Asheville | $133,750 | $64.30 |
| Morrisville | $125,750 | $60.46 |
| Cary | $125,169 | $60.18 |
| Charlotte | $122,558 | $58.92 |
| Winston-Salem | $120,000 | $57.69 |
| Thomasville | $115,466 | $55.51 |
| Salisbury | $115,000 | $55.29 |
| Wilmington | $106,935 | $51.41 |
| Matthews | $98,700 | $47.45 |
| Canton | $85,000 | $40.87 |
| Greensboro | $83,200 | $40.00 |
| Mangum | $72,989 | $35.09 |
Chapel Hill and Durham lead compensation at over $165,000 annually, reflecting the influence of the Research Triangle’s concentration of top-tier companies and research institutions. The Triangle is the 5th largest life sciences hub in the country with more than 600 life science companies employing 42,000+ people with an average annual salary of $140,000. Research Triangle Park is home to more than 300 companies including tech powerhouses Apple, IBM, Cisco, Dell, and more, conducting more than $6 billion worth of research.
But what if you’re already living in Charlotte or considering a move there? While Charlotte’s average salary of $122,558 may seem lower than the Triangle cities, Charlotte’s status as a major banking center creates opportunities for fintech innovation, where software developers can create fraud detection systems, blockchain applications for international transactions, and AI-driven personal finance tools for large financial institutions.
The city’s lower cost of living compared to the Triangle may actually provide better net financial outcomes. The data also provides insights into emerging opportunities in smaller cities like Asheville, which offers competitive salaries around $133,750 while providing a completely different quality of life proposition.
Top Paying Companies in North Carolina
Here is a list of the top companies that consistently offer above-average Software Engineer salaries in North Carolina, representing some of the highest paying software engineering jobs in the state:
Highest Paying Employers
| Company | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Average Hourly Rate (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Veeva Systems | $225,000 | $108.17 |
| NVIDIA | $221,958 | $106.71 |
| $211,167 | $101.52 | |
| Sardine | $205,000 | $98.56 |
| Tanium | $203,125 | $97.66 |
| Microsoft | $188,900 | $90.82 |
| Parallel Consulting | $180,000 | $86.54 |
| Affirm | $176,000 | $84.62 |
| Well | $172,500 | $82.93 |
| Sysdig | $172,250 | $82.81 |
| Strategic Staffing Solutions | $170,560 | $82.00 |
| ATLAS SP Partners | $170,000 | $81.73 |
| SMBC Group | $160,000 | $76.92 |
| NetApp | $157,200 | $75.58 |
| Innova Solutions | $156,000 | $75.00 |
What Top Companies Pay in North Carolina
The compensation landscape reveals several interesting patterns. Big Tech companies like NVIDIA, Google, and Microsoft maintain their salary leadership even in North Carolina’s market, offering packages comparable to major tech hubs while benefiting from the state’s lower cost of living.
What’s particularly noteworthy is the strong showing of specialized companies like Veeva Systems (life sciences software) and Tanium (cybersecurity), which command premium salaries by focusing on high-value niche markets. This reinforces North Carolina’s position as a hub for specialized software engineering rather than just general web development.
North Carolina offers a regional cost of living index of 95.4, lower than the national average, making it the only tech hub in the U.S. with a cost of living below the national average. This means that a $200,000+ salary from a top-tier company provides exceptional purchasing power compared to similar roles in San Francisco or New York.
The presence of consulting firms like Strategic Staffing Solutions and ATLAS SP Partners in the top-paying list also highlights opportunities for contract and consulting work, which can often provide higher hourly rates and project variety for experienced engineers.
How to Maximize Your Software Engineer Salary Potential
Based on our comprehensive data analysis, we recommend the following strategies to optimize your Software Engineer salary in North Carolina:
- Target the 4-5 Year Experience Sweet Spot – The most significant salary jumps occur around years 4-5, where compensation increases by $15,000-20,000
- Consider Hybrid Work Arrangements – These positions command a $19,000+ premium over remote or onsite roles
- Focus on Research Triangle Opportunities – Chapel Hill and Durham offer the highest compensation in the state
- Develop Leadership Skills – The progression to manager level offers a 155% salary increase over entry-level
- Pursue Specialized Certifications – Associate degree holders with targeted skills earn more than master’s degree holders
Discover our comprehensive analysis of in-demand software engineering skills required in 2025
Future Trends in Software Engineering Salaries
With tech employment forecast to grow by seven percent over the next five years, software engineering is one of the fastest growing jobs in North Carolina. The state is home to some of the largest tech companies in the country, as well as medical and research facilities that increasingly rely on software developers.
Engineers who develop expertise in these emerging areas are likely to command premium Software Engineer salaries as North Carolina industries compete for talent with specialized knowledge. Additionally, roles like DevOps engineer and mobile developer are seeing increased demand, with DevOps engineer salary and mobile developer salary often exceeding traditional software engineering roles due to their specialized skill sets.
The data presented in this article was compiled through an analysis of 672 publicly available software engineering salaries in North Carolina. Salaries, required education levels, experience expectations, seniority titles, and locations were extracted and analyzed to identify trends and calculate average salary for software engineers and median figures. This comprehensive salary survey data provides the most up-to-date information on Software Engineer salaries in North Carolina for 2025.
Conclusion
The Software Engineer profession offers strong earning potential across North Carolina, with the median Software Engineer salary reaching $125,425 USD annually. While education provides a foundation, experience and specialization significantly influence salary levels. Location choices, work arrangements, and industry selection have equally important impacts on total compensation packages.
North Carolina has established itself as the second-fastest growing tech hub in the US, with 4,000 tech companies employing more than 60,000 people in software development, information security, and related fields. This growth trajectory suggests continued strong demand for software engineering talent across various software engineering roles.
Frequently Asked Questions
