Entry-Level Electrical Engineer Salary in Raleigh, NC: $76,058 (2026)
Quick Answer:New electrical engineers entering the Raleigh, NC job market in 2026 can expect a starting salary around $76,058 (BLS 10th-percentile benchmark for SOC 17-2071, projected from 2025 OEWS data). Stripping out Raleigh's local price level (BEA RPP 98.2 — 2% below national), a first-year paycheck buys what $77,486 would in average-cost America. Most reach the city median ($134,994) within a few years of clinical practice.
Official BLS data · View source
A new graduate stepping into an entry-level electrical engineering position in Raleigh, North Carolina, can expect to start with a salary of around $76,058 in 2026. This figure illustrates a substantial gap when compared to the city's projected median annual salary of $134,994. For recent graduates, the expected growth trajectory is promising; with experience, one could progress to approximately $85,283 in just a couple of years, making the initial pay competitive within the region. Given the robust job market for electrical engineers and the anticipated 3.65% annual growth in this field, Raleigh presents a favorable environment for newcomers looking to launch their engineering careers effectively.
Career Earnings Timeline in Raleigh
New Graduate
Early Career
Mid Career
Experienced
Salary progression estimated from BLS percentile data. Actual progression varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Raleigh
Entry-level electrical engineers in Raleigh, NC typically start between $76,058 and $85,283 per year (2026 est.). The full salary range spans $153,060 from the 10th to 90th percentile, with the local median at $134,994 — 7.97% above the national median.
Return on Investment
The average electrical engineering program cost in North Carolina of $52,000 represents just 68.37% of the starting electrical engineer pay ($76,058/year) in Raleigh. Most graduates begin earning back their investment from day one, though actual ROI varies based on living expenses, loan interest, and the 2-year opportunity cost of schooling.
Program cost estimates cover ABET-accredited undergraduate electrical engineering programs at public and private universities. Many electrical engineers pursue master's degrees or specialization in power, controls, or electronics.
EE Salary Negotiation Tips for New Graduates in Raleigh
- 1Research the Raleigh market: entry-level electrical engineer pay ranges from $76,058 to $85,283, so aim for at least the 25th percentile if you have strong credentials.
- 2Highlight any additional certifications or specialty training within the electrical engineering field — employers in NC often pay a premium for expanded scope of work.
- 3Evaluate the full compensation package — in Raleigh, benefits like health insurance, continuing-education allowances, and schedule flexibility can add 20-30% to your effective compensation.
- 4Consider starting with a larger hospital system or multi-site employer in Raleigh for competitive entry-level pay and structured mentorship, then move to a smaller employer once you have 2-3 years of experience.
- 5Raleigh's moderate cost of living means your starting salary goes further here compared to many larger metro areas.
Electrical Engineer Compensation Range
The electrical engineer wage spread in Raleigh is $153,060 ( 201.24%) between entry-level and top earners. Starting at $76,058, experienced hygienists can earn up to $229,118.
Represents the current salary spread across experience levels, not projected career growth rate.
2019 BLS Actual
$59,850
2025 BLS Actual
$73,380
2026 Current Est.
$76,058
2019–2027 Growth
+31.7%
Salary Trajectory for Electrical Engineers in Raleigh (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.65% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $59,850 | Actual |
| 2020 | $61,680 | Actual |
| 2021 | $62,770 | Actual |
| 2022 | $68,090 | Actual |
| 2023 | $76,860 | Actual |
| 2024 | $75,030 | Actual |
| 2025 | $73,380 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $76,058 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $78,835 | Projected |
Entry-level electrical engineer compensation (10th percentile) in Raleigh, NC grew 22.6% over 7 years based on actual BLS metropolitan area surveys, rising from $59,850 in 2019 to $73,380 in 2025. By 2027, starting salaries are projected to reach $78,835. New graduates entering the Raleigh job market can expect continued year-over-year gains.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Raleigh metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.65% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Starting Your electrical engineering Career in Raleigh
Companies such as Apple, Nvidia, AMD, and Intel are notable employers in Raleigh, often offering tailored positions that may require advanced degrees but also support structured onboarding for recent grads. Defense contractors like Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman regularly recruit through cleared internship programs, while utility companies target EITs in power systems training roles. Holding a Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from an ABET-accredited program is crucial, and successfully passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam can significantly enhance prospects. Those who pursue a Professional Engineer (PE) license or specialize with advanced degrees can unlock higher salary tiers. Additional attributes like obtaining security clearance for defense roles can yield a premium as well. Entry-level salary growth in this field can be promising, particularly within the semiconductor industry, where more lucrative positions exist, emphasizing how industry choice affects salary potential over one’s first three years in the profession.
More salary data for Raleigh, NC:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Amina Patel, MEng, PE
Career Analyst
Amina has over 10 years of experience in power systems engineering. She works at a utility company specializing in renewable energy integration.
Methodology & Data Source
Entry-level salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The 10th percentile (entry-level) is used as the starting salary benchmark for new electrical engineering graduates. A 3.65% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 entry-level compensation in Raleigh. Program costs are averages and actual tuition varies by institution. ROI calculations are simplified estimates.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.65%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for electrical engineers (SOC 17-2071).
Compiled and verified by Amina Patel, MEng, PE, a licensed electrical engineer with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov