Salary guide, May 2025
Packaging 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 Mechanical Engineers in Raleigh-Cary, NC was $100,000 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $81,420 and $124,360.
The Raleigh-Cary, NC median is $4,110 below the national median of $104,110, both from BLS May 2025.
Broader occupation · SOC 17-2141 Mechanical 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $59,220 | $81,420 | $100,000 | $124,360 | $160,170 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $28.47 | $39.14 | $48.08 | $59.79 | $77.01 |
BLS estimated 1,810 workers employed in this occupation in Raleigh-Cary, NC. Location quotient: 1.28.
What should you know about united States?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $73,990 | $84,130 | $104,110 | $132,590 | $164,340 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $35.57 | $40.45 | $50.05 | $63.75 | $79.01 |
What should you know about role pay against all occupations here?
The published Packaging Engineer median is $100,000. The all-occupations median in Raleigh-Cary, NC is $51,990. Ratio: 1.92 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 1.28 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 | $80,120 | $102,750 | $124,800 |
| May 2025 | $81,420 | $100,000 | $124,360 |
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 17-2141 Mechanical 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 17-2141 Mechanical 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 | $101,800 | $73,190 to $106,080 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $98,040 | $82,500 to $118,140 |
What does this data mean for your opening?
The Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area shows a median annual wage of $100,000 for Packaging Engineers categorized under Mechanical Engineers. This result shows a medianChange of -2,750 compared to the May 2024 value of $102,750. The middle-band width for this area is 42,940.
Manufacturing Headhunters notes that these roles focus on core manufacturing engineering tasks such as primary and secondary packaging specs, ISTA testing, and line equipment optimization including fillers and case packers.
Raleigh-Cary is lower than the national occupational level. High-level national industry data shows medians of $140,600 for Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing and $125,380 for Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing. These national rows serve as reference points for higher-tier manufacturing wages but do not replace the necessity of local market analysis.
Comparison metros in North Carolina exhibit different pay patterns. Both locations present different mid-range pay expectations compared to the Raleigh-Cary metro. It is essential to remember that these BLS statistics exclude non-salary pay components such as annual bonuses, sign-on bonuses, or deferred compensation plans. Because the OEWS survey measures broad occupational categories, these figures represent the average market rate for all mechanical engineers in the region, including those outside of packaging manufacturing. Recruiters should use these benchmarks as a foundation for negotiation while incorporating industry-specific knowledge.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
How does the Raleigh-Cary median compare to the national average?
The local median of $100,000 is lower than the national occupational median of $104,110. This indicates that current local pay for mechanical engineers is slightly below the national standard.
What does the middle-band width imply for local hiring?
The middle-band width of 42,940 represents the salary range for the middle 50% of local mechanical engineers. This indicates the variance in pay and experience for the bulk of the market.
Are these figures based specifically on packaging engineers?
No, they are based on the broader Mechanical Engineers occupation. They do not publish a separate, isolated wage specifically for packaging-focused manufacturing roles.
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