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H-1B data current through FY 2026 Q1

Data Engineer H-1B Salary in Durham, NC

Employers have filed 156 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Data Engineer positions in Durham, NC, with a median salary of $107,940. That's 4% higher than the national Data Engineer H-1B median of $104,247 across all U.S. locations, and about the same as the Durham, NC all-roles H-1B median of $107,520. Data Engineer ranks #15 among H-1B job titles filed from Durham, NC.

Headline numbers for Data Engineer H-1B roles in Durham, NC, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #1,999 by filing volume out of the 6,873 job × city combinations we track — a moderately active market for Data Engineer hiring.

$107,940
Median Salary
156
Certified Filings
$82,285
10th Percentile
$154,482
90th Percentile

Data Engineer H-1B Salary Range in Durham, NC

The pay distribution for this role spans $72,197 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $90,147 and $130,000, the interquartile range where most experienced Data Engineers land. The median of $107,940 sits 4% higher than the national Data Engineer H-1B median.

10th percentile
$82,285
25th percentile
$90,147
Median
$107,940
75th percentile
$130,000
90th percentile
$154,482
Middle 50% of Data Engineer H-1B salaries in Durham, NC: $90,147 to $130,000

Top Employers Hiring Data Engineers in Durham, NC

FIDELITY TECHNOLOGY GROUP is the largest H-1B sponsor for Data Engineer in Durham, NC, with 12 certified filings (8% of local Data Engineer H-1B filings) at a median salary of $151,986. Among the top sponsors, FIDELITY TECHNOLOGY GROUP, D/B/A FIDELITY INVESTMENTS pays the highest median at $161,741. The pay spread across top employers is 100%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.

Median Salary Comparison

Pay spread among top employers: 100% ($80,878 at CORECOMPETE to $161,741 at FIDELITY TECHNOLOGY GROUP, D/B/A FIDELITY INVESTMENTS)

Employer Filings Median Salary
FIDELITY TECHNOLOGY GROUP 12 $151,986
FIDELITY TECHNOLOGY GROUP, D/B/A FIDELITY INVESTMENTS 12 $161,741
IBM 10 $96,262
NC HEALTH AFFILIATES 9 $115,000
CORECOMPETE 6 $80,878

How This Salary Compares

Two benchmarks worth knowing. The first is the national Data Engineer H-1B median across every U.S. location — a measure of how local cost-of-living and market demand shift pay up or down. The second is the all-roles H-1B median in Durham, NC, which tells you whether Data Engineer pays above or below the typical H-1B job in this metro.

vs. National Data Engineer
+4%
4% higher than the national Data Engineer H-1B median of $104,247.
vs. Durham, NC Average
0%
about the same as the overall H-1B median in Durham, NC ($107,520).

Data Engineer H-1B Salaries in Other Cities

The other top metros where Data Engineer is an active H-1B role. Irving, TX has the most filings (1,090) outside Durham, NC. The highest median among these is Menlo Park, CA at $181,300. Click any city below for local salary percentiles and top sponsoring employers.

City Filings Median Salary
Irving, TX 1,090 $98,904
New York, NY 1,064 $126,360
Plano, TX 1,004 $98,000
Menlo Park, CA 920 $181,300
Austin, TX 681 $114,400
Charlotte, NC 611 $106,974
Chicago, IL 559 $100,400
San Francisco, CA 516 $147,368
Seattle, WA 515 $150,000
Houston, TX 475 $93,000

Other H-1B Jobs in Durham, NC

The most common H-1B specialty occupations filed from Durham, NC, ranked by certified filing volume. Software Developer is the busiest non-Data Engineer role here (2,000 filings). The highest-paying role on this list is Principal Full Stack Developer at a median of $132,413.

Job Title Filings Median Salary
Software Developer 2,000 $107,307
Software Engineer 1,566 $115,000
Senior Software Engineer 1,372 $101,109
Principal Software Engineer 1,041 $120,786
Associate Research Associate 344 $57,846
Consultant 280 $100,589
Architect 253 $120,000
Senior Full Stack Developer 240 $110,365
Principal Full Stack Developer 227 $132,413
Systems Analyst 226 $96,720

Key Insights

The median H-1B salary for Data Engineer in Durham, NC is $107,940, based on 156 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 4% higher than the national Data Engineer H-1B median of $104,247 across all U.S. locations. It is also about the same as the overall H-1B median of $107,520 in Durham, NC across all job titles.

Salaries span a $72,197 range from the 10th percentile ($82,285) to the 90th percentile ($154,482). The middle 50% of workers earn between $90,147 and $130,000, reflecting variation in experience, specific technical skills, and employer tier.

FIDELITY TECHNOLOGY GROUP is the largest H-1B sponsor for this role in Durham, NC, with 12 certified filings at a median salary of $151,986. Among the top employers, FIDELITY TECHNOLOGY GROUP, D/B/A FIDELITY INVESTMENTS pays the highest median at $161,741. The pay spread across top employers is 100%, so which employer you work for meaningfully affects your offer.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most common questions people ask about Data Engineer H-1B roles in Durham, NC, answered directly from 156 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Every answer below cites the specific data point it's based on.

What is the average Data Engineer salary in Durham, NC?

The median H-1B salary for Data Engineer positions in Durham, NC is $107,940, based on 156 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.

10th percentile
$82,285
25th percentile
$90,147
Median
$107,940
75th percentile
$130,000
90th percentile
$154,482

The salary distribution for Data Engineer roles in Durham, NC shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $82,285, while the 90th percentile earns $154,482. This $72,197 spread reflects differences in experience levels, specific technical skills, company size, and seniority.

Compared to the national H-1B median of $130,541, Data Engineer salaries in Durham, NC are 17% lower, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.

Which companies hire Data Engineers in Durham, NC?

The top employers sponsoring H-1B visas for Data Engineer positions in Durham, NC are:

These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Data Engineer roles specifically in Durham, NC. FIDELITY TECHNOLOGY GROUP leads with 12 filings at a median salary of $151,986. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $80,878 to $161,741.

How do I get an H-1B visa as a Data Engineer in Durham, NC?

To obtain an H-1B visa as a Data Engineer in Durham, NC, you'll need a sponsoring employer. The process involves several steps:

1
Job Offer
2
LCA Filed
3
H-1B Petition
4
Approved
  1. Secure a job offer from a U.S. employer willing to sponsor your H-1B visa
  2. The employer files a Labor Condition Application (LCA) with the Department of Labor
  3. Once the LCA is certified, the employer files an H-1B petition with USCIS
  4. If selected in the H-1B lottery (if applicable) and approved, you can begin work

Based on our data, 156 H-1B positions for Data Engineers in Durham, NC have been certified, indicating strong demand for this role. The top sponsors listed above have a track record of successful H-1B sponsorship for this position.