Salary guide, May 2025
Process 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 Process 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 reviews the Industrial Engineers SOC classification for Raleigh-Cary, NC, to assist in setting expectations for Process Engineer recruitment. The area median stands at $104,030, which is higher than the national median of $102,440. The local middle band width is $46,980, based on the P25 of $83,240 and P75 of $130,220.
This middle band width is wider than the national middle band width of $45,650, suggesting a more varied pay distribution in this local market.
The Raleigh median grew by $2,150 from May 2024 to May 2025, which is significantly faster than the national increase of $1,300 over the same period. With a location quotient of 0.98, the area exhibits a moderate concentration of engineering employment. The BLS data aggregates all sectors and does not isolate the process engineering plant functions such as DOE, root cause identification, or thermal process monitoring. Total compensation elements like bonuses are not included in these wage figures.
National manufacturing benchmarks show higher medians, such as Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing at $127,140 and Chemical Manufacturing at $118,700. These values confirm that specialized industry roles often command higher wages than the broad metro average. While we focus our screening on Six Sigma Green or Black Belt attainment and deep process exposure, the reported metro figures remain indifferent to these specific qualifications and industry-specific complexities.
Nearby comparison areas include Goldsboro, NC, with a median of $97,220 and a middle band width of $25,390, and Rocky Mount, NC, with a median of $92,840 and a middle band width of $35,080. The Raleigh median is higher than both regional comparison points. Geographic designations follow Census 2025 definitions. As these statistics cover a broad range of industrial engineering roles, they should be used as a general benchmark rather than a exact predictor of local process engineer pay.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
How does the Raleigh median for this occupation compare to the national median?
This difference highlights the regional variance within the Industrial Engineers SOC group.
What was the year-over-year median change for this occupation in Raleigh?
The Raleigh median increased by $2,150 from May 2024 to May 2025. This growth exceeds the national median increase of $1,300 for the same timeframe.
Does this data reflect specific process engineering credentials like Six Sigma?
No, the data is for the broad Industrial Engineers category. It does not adjust for specific technical credentials such as Six Sigma belts, which we evaluate during candidate screening.
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