Salary guide, May 2025
Manufacturing Engineer pay in Raleigh-Cary, NC
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
This is what we do all day: recruit manufacturing professionals.
The median annual wage for Industrial Engineers in Raleigh-Cary, NC was $104,030 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $83,240 and $130,220.
The Raleigh-Cary, NC median is $1,590 above the national median of $102,440, both from BLS May 2025.
Broader occupation · SOC 17-2112 Industrial Engineers
BLS measures this broader occupation across industries. It does not publish a separate wage for this manufacturing title.
What should you know about raleigh-Cary, NC?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $78,470 | $83,240 | $104,030 | $130,220 | $152,010 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $37.73 | $40.02 | $50.01 | $62.61 | $73.08 |
BLS estimated 1,710 workers employed in this occupation in Raleigh-Cary, NC. Location quotient: 0.98.
What should you know about united States?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $74,370 | $83,600 | $102,440 | $129,250 | $159,860 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $35.76 | $40.19 | $49.25 | $62.14 | $76.85 |
What should you know about role pay against all occupations here?
The published Manufacturing Engineer median is $104,030. The all-occupations median in Raleigh-Cary, NC is $51,990. Ratio: 2.00 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 0.98 measures how concentrated this occupation's employment is here against the nation. It is not a wage index.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $81,240 | $101,880 | $126,310 |
| May 2025 | $83,240 | $104,030 | $130,220 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 17-2112 Industrial Engineers, Raleigh-Cary, NC. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 17-2112 Industrial Engineers, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
What should you know about nearby areas?
| Area | Median | 25th to 75th |
|---|---|---|
| Goldsboro, NC | $97,220 | $77,920 to $103,310 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $92,840 | $82,240 to $117,320 |
What does this data mean for your opening?
Manufacturing Headhunters evaluates compensation for Industrial Engineers in the Raleigh-Cary metro, which maps to local Manufacturing Engineers. The May 2025 median annual wage is $104,030, reflecting a medianChange of 2150 compared to the May 2024 figure of $101,880. The local middle band width is 46980, showing significant variation.
98, the employment concentration in this area is nearly equal to the national average. These statistics are based on the broad industrial engineering classification used by the BLS, which includes many sectors beyond manufacturing.
Nearby, the Goldsboro area reports a median of $97,220, and the Rocky Mount area reports $92,840. Raleigh’s middle band width of 46980 is wider than the national figure of 45650, suggesting that engineering salaries in this market fluctuate more than in the U.S. overall. These figures illustrate the breadth of the current labor market in the Raleigh-Cary region.
Engineers here need proficiency in work instructions, PFMEA, and control plans. Tooling and fixture design in parametric mechanical CAD, product design CAD, or integrated CAD/CAM is expected, along with expertise in line layout and balancing. The target plant process often involves machining, assembly, molding, or SMT. National industry benchmarks like $127,140 for Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing and $118,700 for Chemical Manufacturing are useful context, but they do not reflect local conditions. Hiring managers must remember that BLS metrics exclude essential compensation like performance bonuses and health benefits. Use these statistics as a baseline, keeping in mind the limitations of the broad occupation classification provided by the BLS.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
How did the median wage in Raleigh-Cary change between May 2024 and May 2025?
The median wage increased by 2150, rising from $101,880 in 2024 to $104,030 in 2025.
How does the local median compare to the national average?
The Raleigh median of $104,030 is higher than the national median of $102,440, indicating a competitive local engineering pay environment.
What is the main challenge when using this data for recruiting?
The data is for Industrial Engineers, a broad category that aggregates many industries. It does not provide a separate, specific wage for manufacturing-exclusive engineering roles.
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