Lead High-Performance Computing Engineer.
Raleigh.
$196,000
median salary, at the national average
$153,000 to $254,000. Last updated April 2026.
Get the job.
Data points to own the conversation.
Here is what Lead High-Performance Computing Engineers actually make in Raleigh: $153,000 at the 25th percentile, $196,000 at the median, and $254,000 at the 75th. That is right at the national average. Raleigh sits at the heart of the Research Triangle, one of America's premier tech and life sciences corridors. The number on your offer letter will depend on what you bring and how you ask.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $177,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$127,000
to $157,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$167,000
to $206,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$216,000
to $255,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$245,000
to $304,000
Salary trend
+7% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $46,000 to the total package.
Base
$196,000
Equity
$25,000
Bonus
$17,000
Signing
$4,000
Estimated total: $242,000
How Raleigh compares
Raleigh, NC
$196,000
Cost of living: 1% below average
National Average
$196,000
Same as local rate
Lead High-Performance Computing Engineer salary by city
Salary by role in Raleigh
What you should know
Raleigh sits at the heart of the Research Triangle, one of America's premier tech and life sciences corridors. Cisco, Red Hat, Epic Games, and numerous biotech firms drive strong demand for engineering, research, and product roles. The combination of top tier universities and moderate living costs creates an exceptionally favorable salary to expense ratio. That is the backdrop for every Lead High-Performance Computing Engineer offer you will see here.
One thing people overlook: taxes. North Carolina's flat 4.5% income tax keeps the burden low. Raleigh has no city income tax, and the Triangle's affordable housing amplifies your take home purchasing power. The salary on the offer letter is not the salary in your bank account. Always model your take home before you accept.
On negotiation: Cite Research Triangle talent competition in your negotiation. Employers here compete directly with each other and with remote offers, creating favorable leverage for candidates. The range for Lead High-Performance Computing Engineers in Raleigh runs from $153,000 to $254,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A Autonomous Systems Engineer in Raleigh earns $197,000 (1% more)
- The highest-paying role in Raleigh is Principal Quantitative Researcher at $353,000
Common questions.
Lead High-Performance Computing Engineer salary in other cities
Other salaries in Raleigh
Related
Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
Want this data on your site? Embed the salary widget — one script tag, free forever.