As of January 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Chief Engineer in North Carolina is $281,324, equivalent to $135 per hour, $5,410 weekly, or $23,444 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Chief Engineer in cities like Santa Clara, San Jose, and Fremont.

Annually Salaries for Chief Engineer in North Carolina vary widely, spanning from $230,218 to $314,627. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($254,573) and 75th percentile ($298,756), while top earners (90th percentile) make $314,627 per year. This $44,183 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 $230,218 NC January 01, 2026
25th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $254,573 NC January 01, 2026
50th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $281,324 NC January 01, 2026
75th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $298,756 NC January 01, 2026
90th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $314,627 NC January 01, 2026
25% $254,573 10% $230,218 90% $314,627 75% $298,756 $281,324 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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Chief Engineer

Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement - Charlotte, NC

Chief Engineer

Concord Hospitality Enterprises - Pinehurst, NC

Chief Engineer

Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated - Raleigh, NC

Chief Engineer

Sinclair Broadcast Group - Winston Salem, 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 $277,218 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Location Advance, NC Avg. Salary $289,447 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Location Ahoskie, NC Avg. Salary $290,757 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Location Alamance, NC Avg. Salary $289,354 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Location Albemarle, NC Avg. Salary $292,879 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Location Albertson, NC Avg. Salary $280,400 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Location Alexander, NC Avg. Salary $286,764 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Location Alexis, NC Avg. Salary $301,209 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Location Alliance, NC Avg. Salary $283,613 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Location Almond, NC Avg. Salary $284,050 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Job Openings for Chief Engineer in North Carolina

Jobs with a similar salary range to Chief Engineer : Chief Engineer Officer