As of August 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Chief Engineer in North Carolina is $281,683, equivalent to $135 per hour, $5,417 weekly, or $23,474 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Chief Engineer in cities like San Jose, Santa Clara, and San Francisco.

Annually Salaries for Chief Engineer in North Carolina vary widely, spanning from $230,020 to $315,162. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($254,641) and 75th percentile ($299,207), while top earners (90th percentile) make $315,162 per year. This $44,566 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Leadership or Housekeeping, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, North Carolina Chief Engineer often earn 5.0% lower than national averages due to demand from Fortune 73 companies. However, North Carolina currently ranks 36 nationwide for Chief Engineer job salary. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
Chief Engineer Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $230,020 NC August 01, 2026
25th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $254,641 NC August 01, 2026
50th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $281,683 NC August 01, 2026
75th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $299,207 NC August 01, 2026
90th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $315,162 NC August 01, 2026
25% $254,641 10% $230,020 90% $315,162 75% $299,207 $281,683 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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Chief Engineer

MRINetwork Jobs - Charlotte, NC

Chief Engineer

Courtyard Concord - Concord, NC

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TownePlace Suites Kernersville - Kernersville, NC

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Opal Hotels Group - Wilson, NC

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What is a Chief Engineer ?

A chief engineer, commonly referred to as "ChEng" or "Chief", is the seniormost engine officer of an engine department on a ship, typically a merchant ship, and holds overall leadership and responsibility of that department. As a person who holds one of the most senior roles on the ship, he or she must have excellent communication and leadership skills. He or she will be expected to regularly work alongside other crew members and external consultants, and most importantly, provide guidance his or her team. To be a chief engineer, an engineer must attain a chief engineer's license appropriate ...

Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/17/2019). Read more from Wikipedia

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Location Avg. Salary Date Updated
Location Aberdeen, NC Avg. Salary $287,942 Date Updated August 01, 2026
Location Advance, NC Avg. Salary $293,961 Date Updated August 01, 2026
Location Ahoskie, NC Avg. Salary $288,301 Date Updated August 01, 2026
Location Alamance, NC Avg. Salary $294,748 Date Updated August 01, 2026
Location Albemarle, NC Avg. Salary $294,205 Date Updated August 01, 2026
Location Albertson, NC Avg. Salary $286,151 Date Updated August 01, 2026
Location Alexander, NC Avg. Salary $292,125 Date Updated August 01, 2026
Location Alexis, NC Avg. Salary $303,488 Date Updated August 01, 2026
Location Alliance, NC Avg. Salary $285,303 Date Updated August 01, 2026
Location Almond, NC Avg. Salary $287,317 Date Updated August 01, 2026
Job Openings for Chief Engineer in North Carolina

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