Design, develop, and maintain software systems. One of the highest-demand roles in the US labor market. Median salary in Durham: $146K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.
Figures represent annual base salary in Durham, North Carolina. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial · How we calculate this →
Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above — specific to this role and city.
Software Engineers in Durham earn approximately 12% higher than the US national median for this role — a $16,000 premium on annual base salary. This reflects Durham's position as a higher-cost labor market where employers must match local wage norms.
Adjusted for Durham's cost-of-living index (100), the median Software Engineer salary buys the equivalent of $146,000 in a US-average-cost city. That's $16,000 more purchasing power than the national median — a meaningful real-wage advantage.
This role is 72% remote-eligible nationally according to job-posting analysis, which significantly expands the job market for Durham-based Software Engineers. Many Durham professionals in this role are paid on the locality scale of their employer's HQ rather than Durham's local rate — verify which scale your offer references before negotiating.
Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $176K by 2030.
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The median Software Engineer salary in Durham, NC is $146,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Durham–NC metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.
Entry-level Software Engineers in Durham with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $106,000 and $146,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $146,000 to $185,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $185,000 to $235,000 or more.
Durham has a cost of living index of 100 compared to the US national average of 100. Living costs in Durham are close to the national average. North Carolina has a 4.75% state income tax rate.
Bachelor's in CS or related. This role is 72% remote-eligible nationally, which can significantly expand the job market for Durham-based professionals.