As of July 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Chief Engineer in North Carolina is $281,632, equivalent to $135 per hour, $5,416 weekly, or $23,469 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 $229,967 to $315,126. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($254,588) and 75th percentile ($299,164), while top earners (90th percentile) make $315,126 per year. This $44,576 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 $229,967 NC July 01, 2026
25th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $254,588 NC July 01, 2026
50th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $281,632 NC July 01, 2026
75th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $299,164 NC July 01, 2026
90th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $315,126 NC July 01, 2026
25% $254,588 10% $229,967 90% $315,126 75% $299,164 $281,632 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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Check out Chief Engineer jobs in North Carolina

Chief Engineer (Hotel Maintenance)

Hersha Hospitality Management - Morehead City, NC

Hotel Chief Engineer

Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club, JB Duke Hotel, The Lodge at Duke Medical Center - Durham, NC

Chief Engineer

Hays - Durham, NC

Chief Engineer, AI Developer Experience & Platform

Kaiser Permanente - Country Park Acres, 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 $287,214 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Location Advance, NC Avg. Salary $293,217 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Location Ahoskie, NC Avg. Salary $287,572 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Location Alamance, NC Avg. Salary $294,003 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Location Albemarle, NC Avg. Salary $293,461 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Location Albertson, NC Avg. Salary $285,428 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Location Alexander, NC Avg. Salary $291,386 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Location Alexis, NC Avg. Salary $302,721 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Location Alliance, NC Avg. Salary $284,582 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Location Almond, NC Avg. Salary $286,590 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Job Openings for Chief Engineer in North Carolina

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