Salary guide, May 2025
Validation 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 Validation 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?
In the Raleigh-Cary market, Validation Engineers are measured within the Industrial Engineers (SOC 17-2112) group. Validation Engineers typically perform critical tasks including IQ, OQ, and PQ, as well as process, cleaning, and computer system validation per 21 CFR Part 11 requirements.
Manufacturing Headhunters provides this guidance to assist hiring managers in understanding current wage benchmarks based on official May 2025 releases.
The local median wage is $104,030, showing a change of 2150 from the previous year. For Validation Engineer in Raleigh-Cary, NC, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $104,030; the May 2024 median is $101,880. Their arithmetic difference is $2,150. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause. The Raleigh local median is slightly higher than the national level. National manufacturing industry medians include $127,140 for Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing and $118,700 for Chemical Manufacturing. These national figures provide contextual industry benchmarks.
When examining regional comparisons, Raleigh is paired with Goldsboro and Rocky Mount. Goldsboro reports a median of $97,220, whereas Rocky Mount lists a median of $92,840. The location quotient for Raleigh is 0.98. These figures reflect employment concentration rather than candidate availability. It is essential to remember that BLS data omits various employer-offered benefits that make up the total compensation package for validation professionals.
All figures provided are extracted directly from the May 2025 BLS release. Estimates for non-published data are not included in this analysis. For Validation Engineer in Raleigh-Cary, NC, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $104,030; the May 2024 median is $101,880. Their arithmetic difference is $2,150. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause. Hiring managers should utilize these benchmarks to align expectations while recognizing that industrial engineering covers diverse functions beyond specific validation mandates.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
The current median wage for the Industrial Engineers group in the Raleigh-Cary metro is $104,030. For Validation Engineer in Raleigh-Cary, NC, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $104,030; the May 2024 median is $101,880. Their arithmetic difference is $2,150.
Why are validation engineer duties not separated in the data?
The BLS tracks this role within the broader Industrial Engineer occupation category. It does not publish distinct wages for specific specializations like system validation.
What is the median wage for this role in Raleigh?
The current median wage for the Industrial Engineers group in the Raleigh-Cary metro is $104,030. For Validation Engineer in Raleigh-Cary, NC, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $104,030; the May 2024 median is $101,880. Their arithmetic difference is $2,150. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause.
Are these local wages influenced by national manufacturing benchmarks?
National industry medians, such as $118,700 for Chemical Manufacturing, provide context but are distinct from local geographic data. Local hiring should focus on the specific regional metro median provided.
What does the location quotient represent?
The location quotient of 0.98 measures the concentration of employment for Industrial Engineers in Raleigh. It is a ratio of employment density and does not measure local pay levels or candidate supply.
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