Raleigh, NC Salary Guide - 2026

Software Engineer Intern Salary in Raleigh, NC (2026)

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$36,000 USD is the average annualized base salary for a Software Engineer Intern in Raleigh, NC, triangulated across Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter, Salary.com, and Indeed data gathered through early 2026 - note that figures vary widely by source and methodology. This page covers the full compensation landscape for intern-level software engineering roles across Raleigh and the broader Research Triangle, helping students and early-career candidates benchmark offers, understand what drives pay differences, and negotiate confidently. Ranges shift based on employer size, industry, internship duration, whether equity or housing stipends are included, and proximity to anchor employers in Durham, Cary, and Research Triangle Park.

First Internship
$20K - $30K USD
No prior internship; freshman or sophomore year, small/local employer
Returning Intern
$30K - $42K USD
One prior internship or strong project portfolio; midsize employer
Senior Intern / Co-op
$42K - $55K USD
Multiple internships or co-op track; large tech or fintech employer in RTP
Top-of-Market Intern
$55K - $75K+ USD
National-brand employer (Cisco, NetApp, Red Hat, Fidelity) with competitive intern program

SOFTWARE ENGINEER INTERN SALARY RANGES IN RALEIGH, NC (RESEARCH TRIANGLE) - 2026

First Internship
$20K - $30K USD
Returning Intern
$30K - $42K USD
Senior Intern / Co-op
$42K - $55K USD
Top-of-Market Intern
$55K - $75K+ USD
Source: Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter, Salary.com, Indeed (2025-2026). Annualized base salary only; excludes stipends, bonuses, housing, and equity. Ranges are estimates and vary by employer.

What does a Software Engineer Intern earn at each level in Raleigh?

Pay at the intern level is driven less by academic year and more by employer size, brand, and how competitive the intern program is.

First Internship

$20K - $30K USD

Smaller Raleigh startups and regional employers typically pay $15-$18/hr, often with no housing stipend or relocation support.

Move up

  • Complete at least one personal or open-source project before applying to larger RTP employers.
  • Target co-op tracks at NC State or UNC which feed directly into higher-paying programs.
  • Add one in-demand skill (Python, SQL, or cloud basics) to your resume before the next cycle.
Rewrite your resume around production impact →

Returning Intern

$30K - $42K USD

Mid-tier employers in fintech, healthtech, or government contracting pay in this band, especially for second or third-year students with a prior internship.

Move up

  • Reference a concrete output from your prior internship (e.g., shipped feature, reduced build time) in every application.
  • Apply 6-8 weeks earlier than peers; competitive RTP programs fill quickly.
  • Ask recruiters explicitly whether the offer includes a housing stipend, which can add $3K-$5K in effective comp.
Rewrite your resume around production impact →

Senior Intern / Co-op

$42K - $55K USD

Cisco, Red Hat, NetApp, and Bandwidth run structured co-op programs at or near RTP that pay in this band for students with strong project portfolios.

Move up

  • Get a return offer or strong reference letter to convert to a full-time role at band-rate salary.
  • Highlight systems-level or backend work; these skills command a premium at RTP hardware and networking firms.
  • Use your co-op manager as a reference in future applications to national-brand tech employers.
Rewrite your resume around production impact →

Top-of-Market Intern

$55K - $75K+ USD

National tech brands (Fidelity, LexisNexis, Google recruiting into RTP) and remote-first US-HQ companies occasionally post intern roles at this level for highly competitive candidates.

Move up

  • Target companies with published intern compensation ranges, not those that list 'competitive pay' only.
  • Prepare a 30-minute coding interview using LeetCode medium problems; top-band programs screen hard.
  • Negotiate housing or relocation explicitly - top programs often have flex budget here.
Rewrite your resume around production impact →

Getting offers below $30K or no response at all?

Most interns stuck at the bottom of the range either apply too late, use a generic resume that does not match the job description, or overlook the large RTP anchor employers that run the most competitive programs. Fixing your targeting and your resume language moves the needle faster than any other lever.

  • Score your resume against the specific job description using an ATS checker before submitting to any RTP employer.
  • Apply directly to the career portals of Cisco, Red Hat, NetApp, Fidelity, and Bandwidth - these programs pay above the Raleigh average and are often not fully visible on aggregator boards.
  • List GPA only if it is above 3.3; replace that space with a concrete project outcome if it is lower.
  • Follow NCSU and UNC career fair employer lists and apply to sponsors 2-3 weeks before the fair date.
  • Ask your campus career center if the employer offers a co-op track, which typically pays 15-25% more than a standard 10-week internship.

Turn your project work into top-of-band intern offer language

The difference between a $25K and a $55K intern offer in Raleigh often comes down to how your resume frames your skills and outputs - not just what you have done. Optimize your resume to match the language top RTP employers use in their intern job descriptions.

What drives Software Engineer Intern salaries higher in Raleigh

Higher-paying candidates typically show:

  • Employer size and program structure: Large RTP anchor companies (Cisco, NetApp, Fidelity) run formal intern programs that pay 40-80% more than local startups for equivalent skill levels.
  • Technical stack alignment: Candidates who match the exact stack listed (Python, Java, cloud platforms, or Golang) receive fewer rejections and stronger starting offers.
  • Prior internship history: A second or third internship typically commands a 20-35% pay step up over a first internship at the same employer tier.
  • Internship duration and format: Co-op placements (4-8 months) at firms like Cisco and Red Hat pay on a higher annualized rate than standard 10-week summer programs.
  • Industry vertical: Fintech (Fidelity, Envestnet) and enterprise software (LexisNexis, SAS) pay above the Raleigh intern median; defense and government contracting pay closer to mid-range.
  • Stipends and housing: Top programs add $2,000-$5,000 in housing or relocation stipends that are not reflected in base hourly rates - always ask.

Software Engineer Intern salaries across the Research Triangle and North Carolina

Raleigh, NC

$30K - $55K USD

The largest job market in the Triangle, anchored by Red Hat, Bandwidth, LexisNexis, and state government tech offices; mid-to-large employers dominate the upper half of the range.

Durham, NC

$28K - $52K USD

Home to Duke University, IBM, and a growing cluster of healthtech and SaaS startups; intern pay is comparable to Raleigh, with university-affiliated roles often at the lower end.

Chapel Hill, NC

$22K - $40K USD

UNC-Chapel Hill drives a research-heavy intern market; most roles are university or health-system affiliated and pay below the Triangle commercial average.

Research Triangle Park (RTP), NC

$38K - $65K USD

The highest-paying intern cluster in NC, home to Cisco, NetApp, Lenovo, and multiple pharma tech firms; structured programs here consistently pay at or above the national intern median.

Charlotte, NC

$32K - $55K USD

A strong fintech and banking hub (Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Truist) with competitive intern programs, roughly on par with Raleigh but with a heavier financial services flavor.

For most Raleigh-based interns, targeting RTP anchor employers - even if the commute is 20-30 minutes - is the single highest-leverage move, as those programs pay 20-40% above what a typical Raleigh startup or state agency offers. If you are open to remote-first roles at US-headquartered tech companies, you can often access Bay Area or Seattle pay bands from Raleigh without relocating; look for postings that specify 'remote-eligible' with the employer HQ in a high-cost market. Charlotte is worth a parallel application track if you are interested in fintech or banking tech, but do not expect meaningfully higher base pay than Raleigh - the advantage there is program structure and return-offer rates, not starting hourly rate.

Stipends and housing allowances

Many top RTP intern programs (Cisco, NetApp, Fidelity) include a housing stipend of $1,500-$5,000 that does not appear in published hourly rates. Always ask the recruiter whether a stipend is included before comparing two offers on base rate alone. Effective compensation can differ by 15-25% once stipends are factored in.

Remote vs. on-site offers

Remote intern roles posted by US-HQ employers outside North Carolina often carry pay bands tied to their headquarters market, which can be 30-60% higher than local Raleigh rates. If you are applying to a fully-remote role, research the employer's HQ city pay band, not just the Raleigh average. On-site RTP roles sometimes include subsidized transportation or meals that partially offset the lower base.

Equity and return-offer value

Intern roles do not typically include equity, but a return full-time offer from a top RTP employer can represent $20,000-$40,000 in first-year compensation premium over a cold full-time application. Treat the return-offer pipeline as part of the total value of accepting a top-band internship even if the hourly rate is not the highest you were offered.

Before and during your Raleigh intern offer negotiation

Complete these steps to maximize your offer and avoid leaving money on the table.

  • ✓Research the employer's intern pay range on Glassdoor and Levels.fyi before your first recruiter call so you know the band before they name a number.
  • ✓Confirm whether a housing or relocation stipend is included; if not, ask whether it is negotiable separately from base pay.
  • ✓Compare offers on an annualized basis (hourly rate x 40 hrs x weeks) so that a 10-week and a 16-week offer are directly comparable.
  • ✓Ask what percentage of interns receive a return full-time offer; a high conversion rate increases the long-term value of a mid-band offer.
  • ✓Highlight any prior internship outputs in your negotiation email with a one-line result (e.g., 'reduced API latency by 18%') rather than just listing responsibilities.
  • ✓If you have a competing offer, state the competing number in writing and ask if the employer can match or beat it; most structured programs have some flex.
  • ✓Request confirmation of the offer details in writing before verbally accepting, including start date, pay rate, stipend terms, and any equipment provision.
  • ✓Check whether the employer participates in NCSU or UNC co-op programs, which sometimes unlock a higher pay tier than the standard summer rate.

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  • →Formats your resume to pass ATS filters at top-paying companies in Toronto, Vancouver, and remote-first teams.
  • →Turns "trained a model" into "reduced inference latency 40%" — the language that puts you in the upper band, not the lower one.
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Common Questions

Answers to the most common questions about Software Engineer Intern compensation in Raleigh, NC.

How much does a Software Engineer Intern make in Raleigh, NC?

Annualized base pay for a Software Engineer Intern in Raleigh typically ranges from about $20,000 at small local employers to $55,000 or more at large RTP anchor companies. Glassdoor's Raleigh-Durham data (February 2026) shows an average near $122,000, but that figure appears to reflect total annualized professional-level data rather than true intern-only offers - treat it with caution. ZipRecruiter's Raleigh intern average of roughly $51,000 annualized and Indeed's $15/hr figure better reflect the range of real intern postings in the market.

What is the average hourly pay for a Software Engineer Intern in Raleigh, NC?

Based on aggregated data from ZipRecruiter and Indeed as of early 2026, hourly rates in Raleigh range from roughly $13-$15/hr at the low end (small employers, part-time) to $28-$35/hr at top RTP programs (Cisco, NetApp, Fidelity). The ZipRecruiter North Carolina average sits around $23/hr. All figures are estimates and vary by employer, internship structure, and skill set.

Which companies pay the most for software engineering interns in Raleigh and the Research Triangle?

Based on Glassdoor employer data for the Raleigh-Durham market, top-paying companies include NetApp, Fidelity Investments, Envestnet, Cisco Systems, and LexisNexis Legal and Professional. Red Hat and Bandwidth are also cited as active hirers in Raleigh with competitive structured intern programs. RTP-based firms consistently pay above the Raleigh city average for intern roles.

How does Raleigh intern pay compare to Durham and Charlotte?

Raleigh and Durham intern pay are broadly comparable, with both ranging from roughly $28K-$55K annualized depending on employer. RTP, which sits between the two cities, anchors the high end of the Triangle market. Charlotte is similar to Raleigh in base intern pay but is heavily weighted toward fintech and banking tech employers. Chapel Hill skews lower due to the dominance of university and health-system affiliated roles.

Does Raleigh pay less than the national average for software engineering interns?

Glassdoor data from February 2026 notes that Raleigh-Durham intern pay is approximately 12% below the national average for this role category. Salary.com's national average for a Software Engineer Internship as of April 2026 is $80,498, which gives a rough Raleigh baseline of $70,000-$75,000 annualized at that methodology - though most real intern postings in the area come in below that figure.

Do software engineering interns in Raleigh get housing stipends?

Some do, but not all. Large structured programs at RTP companies (Cisco, NetApp, Fidelity) frequently include housing stipends of $1,500-$5,000 for the internship term, which can add 15-25% to the effective compensation. Smaller Raleigh employers and university-affiliated roles typically do not offer stipends. Always ask about stipends separately from the base rate when comparing offers.

What skills increase software engineer intern pay in Raleigh?

Cloud computing skills (AWS, Azure, GCP), Python, Kubernetes, and API development are consistently cited as premium skills in Raleigh-area job postings. Salary.com data suggests cloud and Kubernetes expertise can increase intern pay by up to 11%. Candidates with prior experience in Agile or Scrum environments and familiarity with CI/CD pipelines also receive higher offers at RTP enterprise employers.

Is it worth targeting remote intern roles instead of Raleigh on-site roles?

If you can qualify for a remote-eligible role at a US-HQ company based in a higher-cost market (Bay Area, Seattle, New York), the pay band can be 30-60% higher than local Raleigh rates for the same skill level. However, on-site RTP roles at top programs offer networking, mentorship, and return-offer pipelines that are harder to replicate remotely, especially for a first or second internship.

Related Salary Guides

Explore intern and entry-level tech salaries in comparable markets and roles to strengthen your negotiation strategy.

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Supply Chain Intern$31,000 - $38,000 USD$36,000 - $44,000 USD$42,000 - $55,000 USD—
Marketing Intern$0 (stipend only)$16 - $19/hr USD$19 - $22/hr USD$22 - $25/hr USD
Investment Banking Summer Analyst$65K - $80K USD$80K - $95K USD$95K - $110K USD$105K - $120K USD
Project Manager$65K - $85K USD$86K - $115K USD$116K - $145K USD$146K - $179K USD

More salary and career resources

Build on your salary research with guides on negotiating offers, crafting strong internship resumes, and understanding what tech employers actually look for in entry-level candidates.

Salary Negotiation Techniques How To Get The Offer You Deserve

Learn practical strategies for negotiating your software engineering internship offer in Raleigh and ensuring you secure the best possible compensation package.

Read article →

How To Build A Resume With No Work Experience Step By Step Guide

This guide helps interns and early-career software engineers in the Research Triangle create compelling resumes that highlight projects and skills when traditional work history is limited.

Read article →

Alex Kovalenko On What Actually Gets You Hired In Tech In 2026

Discover what tech hiring managers and recruiters really prioritize when evaluating software engineering intern candidates beyond salary expectations.

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Sources and methodology

Salary ranges on this page were compiled by cross-referencing self-reported salary data from Glassdoor and ZipRecruiter, employer-reported survey data from Salary.com, and job-posting data from Indeed and LinkedIn, all focused on Software Engineer Intern roles in the Raleigh, NC and Research Triangle market as of late 2025 through April 2026.

What software engineering interns in the Research Triangle are actually saying

The following reflects sentiment gathered from public forums and review platforms focused on Raleigh-Durham intern compensation, updated through early 2026.

Glassdoor · Raleigh-Durham intern reviews
“The pay is competitive for NC but definitely lower than what friends got at companies in Seattle or Austin.”

This reflects a recurring theme in Triangle intern reviews: local RTP programs are strong relative to NC peers but trail coastal tech hubs, reinforcing the case for targeting remote-eligible roles at national brands.

Reddit · r/ncsu and r/cscareerquestions
“Got $28/hr at an RTP company as a returning intern - no housing stipend but good mentorship.”

Mid-range hourly figures from NC State feeders confirm that returning interns at RTP firms land in the $28-$35/hr band, and that stipend absence is common even at larger employers.

LinkedIn · Research Triangle internship posts
“Fidelity and NetApp consistently show up as the top-paying intern programs in the Triangle.”

LinkedIn community commentary aligns with Glassdoor employer rankings, pointing to financial services and storage tech as the highest-paying intern verticals in the local market.

Indeed · Raleigh intern job reviews
“Small Raleigh startups rarely break $18/hr - the big RTP names are where the real intern money is.”

This matches the wide spread in published data: the lower end of the Raleigh intern market is anchored by smaller employers, making employer selection the single largest compensation lever for candidates.

Companies actively hiring Software Engineer Interns in Raleigh and the Research Triangle

Cisco Systems · Red Hat · NetApp · Fidelity Investments · Bandwidth · LexisNexis · Lenovo · Envestnet · IBM · SAS Institute · Duke University · Viavi Solutions

Data note: All salary figures on this page are estimates derived from publicly available aggregate sources including Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter, Salary.com, and Indeed, compiled through early 2026. Figures represent annualized base salary only and exclude housing stipends, signing or completion bonuses, relocation allowances, equity, and any other non-base compensation. Data reflects market conditions as of the date ranges cited per source and may not reflect current postings. Individual offers vary significantly based on employer, internship duration, academic year, skill set, negotiation, and local labor market conditions. This page is intended as a general reference only. Yotru makes no guarantee of accuracy. Always verify compensation with the hiring employer directly.