Mechanical Engineering Degree in Raleigh, NC — Salary & ROI 2026
Mechanical Engineering degree analysis for Raleigh, NC. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$65K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$91K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.2 yrs
in Raleigh
Cost of Living
83
index (100 = avg)
Mechanical Engineering in Raleigh, NC Overview
Raleigh is one of North Carolina's top college towns, with 21 institutions and a student population of 113,809. Public tuition averages $9,101/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. Mechanical Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in CAD and Thermodynamics. The adjusted starting salary in Raleigh is approximately $64,740.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
21
Public Tuition
$9,101/yr
Private Tuition
$30,399/yr
Room & Board
$10,389/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,262/yr
Unemployment
3.4%
Graduation Rate
62%
Mechanical Engineering Salary in Raleigh (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Raleigh's cost of living index of 83 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Mechanical Engineering salary: $78,000 starting, $110,000 mid-career, $138,000 senior level.Raleigh adjustment factor: 0.83x based on the local cost of living index.
Mechanical Engineering ROI Calculator for Raleigh
Estimate your return on investment for a Mechanical Engineering degree using local Raleigh tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,101 | Private avg: $30,399
Raleigh avg aid: $7,262/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$77,960
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$35,690
vs HS diploma in Raleigh
ROI Payback Period
2.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Raleigh
$710,540
Lifetime earnings premium ($788,500) minus total education cost ($77,960)
Student Loan Payoff for Mechanical Engineering in Raleigh
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Raleigh for Mechanical Engineering
North Carolina State University
public
$9,101/yr
$36,404 total
Meredith College
private
$42,074/yr
$168,296 total
Shaw University
private
$18,724/yr
$74,896 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Wake Technical Community College
$2,864/yr
Top Employers for Mechanical Engineering in Raleigh
Raleigh offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Mechanical Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Raleigh Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Mechanical Engineering Job Titles
Mechanical Engineering in Nearby North Carolina Cities
Charlotte, NC
$69K starting · COL 89
39 colleges
Greensboro, NC
$71K starting · COL 91
17 colleges
Durham, NC
$85K starting · COL 109
25 colleges
Winston-Salem, NC
$83K starting · COL 106
26 colleges
Fayetteville, NC
$70K starting · COL 90
15 colleges
Cary, NC
$85K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
Wilmington, NC
$74K starting · COL 95
5 colleges
High Point, NC
$66K starting · COL 84.5
5 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Raleigh
Petroleum Engineering
$42K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$42K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$68K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$42K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$66K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$66K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$42K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$42K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering Degree in Raleigh — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Mechanical Engineering ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Raleigh.