Mechanical Engineers, Durham
$101,650
BLS OEWS median annual wage in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC. Middle half of wages roughly $84,750 to $129,310.
BLS OEWS median, May 2025, as of May 15, 2026. BEA Regional Price Parity 2024. Disclaimer
- vs US median
- −2.4%
- US median
- $104,110
- Metro RPP
- 97.6
- Middle half
- $84,750 to $129,310
- OEWS employment
- 620
- SOC
- 17-2141
Mechanical Engineers in Durham pay a median $101,650 (May 2025), 2.4% below the US median of $104,110. At local prices (RPP 97.6), that median buys about what $104,150 buys at US-average prices.
Purchasing power
$101,650 in Durham buys about what $104,150 buys at US-average prices (BEA RPP 97.6, 2024). Housing (rents) RPP is 98.9 vs all-items 97.6 (US = 100, 2024).
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See current openings for Mechanical Engineers in Durham.
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Mechanical Engineers in nearby metros
| Metro | Median | Middle half | RPP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $101,650 | $84,750 to $129,310 | 97.6 |
| Charlotte | $101,950 | $85,180 to $126,180 | 97.3 |
| San Francisco | $161,370 | $128,330 to $183,990 | 115.6 |
| Tulsa | $107,440 | $85,210 to $129,220 | 89.2 |
BLS OEWS May 2025 where published for the CBSA.
FAQ
- What is the median salary for Mechanical Engineers in Durham?
- According to BLS OEWS May 2025, the median annual wage for Mechanical Engineers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC is $101,650.
- How does Durham pay compare to the US median for Mechanical Engineers?
- Local median pay is 2.4% below the national OEWS median of $104,110.
- How does cost of living change what that wage buys?
- BEA RPP for Durham is 97.6 (US = 100, 2024). The local median of $101,650 has about the same purchasing power as $104,150 at US-average prices.
- How current is this data?
- Wages are BLS OEWS May 2025. Price levels use BEA Regional Price Parities for 2024. See methodology for source details.
What this covers
Includes
- BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, goods, housing rents, other services)
- BLS OEWS median wages, percentile bands, and employment where published
- Purchasing-power math: salary × (destination RPP ÷ origin RPP)
Does not include
- Federal, state, or local income taxes
- Childcare, healthcare premiums, or leave benefits
- Job openings. OEWS employment is a published stock estimate, not hiring demand
Median wages are published BLS OEWS metro estimates; price levels use BEA Regional Price Parities. See methodology and disclaimer.