Software Engineer salary in North Carolina
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A Software Engineer in North Carolina earns a median of $134,710 a year ($64.76/hour equivalent), 0.9% below the national median of $135,980. North Carolina ranks #12 of 50 states. About 58,470 people do this job in North Carolina.
Take-home pay in North Carolina
At the North Carolina median, a single filer keeps about $98,474 a year after federal, FICA and North Carolina taxes — $3,787 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the North Carolina paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $5,181.15
- Federal income tax
- −$810.17
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$321.23
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$75.13
- North Carolina income tax
- −$187.16
- Take-home pay
- $3,787.46
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $134,710
- Federal
- $21,064
- FICA
- $10,305
- State + local
- $4,866
- Net
- $98,474
- Marginal federal rate
- 24.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 4.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
How North Carolina compares
| Rank | State | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | $174,410 |
| #2 | Washington | $166,540 |
| #3 | New York | $166,180 |
| #4 | Massachusetts | $165,210 |
| #5 | Oregon | $142,720 |
| #12 | North Carolina | $134,710 |
| #48 | Louisiana | $102,800 |
| #49 | South Dakota | $96,310 |
| #50 | Mississippi | $95,330 |
See the national Software Engineer salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Software Developers (SOC 15-1252), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Software Engineer make in North Carolina?
The median salary is $134,710 a year and the average is $136,940 (BLS May 2025).
Is North Carolina a good state for software developers?
North Carolina ranks #12 of 50 states for median pay in this job, 1% below the national median of $135,980.
What is $134,710 after taxes in North Carolina?
About $98,474 a year ($3,787 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.