Software Engineer Salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (2026)
Data updated · Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025, HUD FY 2027 Fair Market Rents, EPI 2026 Family Budget, 2026 tax tables · Methodology
Wage Benchmarking & After-Tax Paycheck Engine
Dynamic statutory tax calculations based on IRS Publication 15-T and state statutory schedules.
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Software Engineer Wage Distribution
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Percentiles & Career Ladders
HUD Fair Market Rent & EPI Living Wage Affordability Index
Evaluating housing affordability vs. net take-home pay in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC under the HUD 30% housing cost guideline.
Hourly Wage to Annual & Overtime Matrix
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Interstate MSA Relocation & State Tax Migration Comparator
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Software Engineer in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC: Compensation & Purchasing Power Briefing (2026)
Estimates compiled from BLS OEWS wages, IRS 2026 withholding rules, HUD Fair Market Rents, and North Carolina tax codes.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Wages sourced from US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS OEWS). Rents calibrated to HUD Fair Market Rents. Tax schedules calibrated to IRS IRC Title 26, IRS Pub 15-T, and state statutory revenue codes.
- Federal Standard Deduction (Single) $16,100
- FICA OASDI Wage Base Cap $184,500
- Pre-Tax 401(k) Elective Deferral $24,500
- HSA Individual Annual Limit $4,400
Software Engineer in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC: Market Snapshot
Software Engineer roles in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC report a median annual wage of $135,620, 0.3% below the national median of $135,980. The 10th to 90th percentile band runs from $100,670 to $209,410, and HUD’s $1,554 monthly one-bedroom fair market rent equals 13.8% of that median gross pay. The single-adult living wage benchmark for the area is $29.95 per hour.
Highest-paying metropolitan areas for Software Engineer
| Metropolitan area | Median annual wage | Vs this market |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $213,110 | +57.1% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $186,640 | +37.6% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $167,280 | +23.3% |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $166,830 | +23.0% |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $166,090 | +22.5% |
| Boulder, CO | $164,560 | +21.3% |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $163,270 | +20.4% |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $162,650 | +19.9% |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | $162,090 | +19.5% |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $160,920 | +18.7% |
Top-paying occupations benchmarked in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Executives | $381,330 | $183.33/hr |
| Sales Managers | $190,370 | $91.52/hr |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $183,540 | $88.24/hr |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $176,190 | $84.71/hr |
| Marketing Managers | $175,160 | $84.21/hr |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $172,480 | $82.92/hr |
| Financial Manager | $165,470 | $79.55/hr |
| Human Resources Managers | $160,580 | $77.20/hr |
| Purchasing Managers | $160,370 | $77.10/hr |
| Data Engineer | $141,770 | $68.16/hr |
Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2025, 377 metropolitan areas publishing this occupation; HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rents; EPI Family Budget Calculator. Taxes use 2026 federal and state rules. Data last updated .
Regional Labor Market & Career Mobility Network
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Related Technology Roles in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
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Other Metros for Software Engineer
Regional metropolitan labor markets within commuter or relocation distance with local BLS wages and living costs.
Software Engineer median pay in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC is $135,620 a year ($65.20/hr). See take-home pay after 2026 taxes, BLS wage percentiles, HUD rents. Official 2026 economic data for Software Engineer in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.
Quick answers
The median annual wage is $135,620 ($65.20 per hour). The middle 80% of earners make between $100,670 and $209,410. Source: BLS OEWS (May 2025).
On the median wage of $135,620, a single filer with no pre-tax deductions takes home about $99,060 a year ($8,255 a month) after $36,560 in federal, FICA, state and local taxes, an effective rate of 26.96%, using 2026 tax rules.