Duke Energy Average Employee Salary 2026: Pay by Role
Duke Energy average employee salary is estimated at $102,015 in 2026, with $91,814 median pay and $142,821 average total compensation. Compare Duke Energy employee salaries by role, level, bonus, equity, benefits, and Charlotte, NC location context before evaluating an offer.
Average Salary
$102,015
$8,501/mo
Total Compensation
$142,821
base + bonus + equity
Employees
28K
large company
Rating
4
★★★★☆
Direct answer
Duke Energy average employee salary in 2026
The average salary for Duke Energy employees is estimated at $102,015 in 2026, with median pay of $91,814 and average total compensation of $142,821 when bonus, equity, and incentive pay are included. Entry-level roles start around $61,209, senior roles average $163,224, and the highest listed role benchmark is Energy Trader at $122,000.
Search intent match
Duke Energy average employee salary, compensation and role pay
These are the four compensation questions people usually compare before applying to Duke Energy: average employee salary, average compensation per employee, salary by role, and salary range by level.
| Search question | 2026 answer | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Duke Energy average employee salary 2026 | $102,015 average base salary | Compare against the Energy peer average of $122,531. |
| Duke Energy average compensation per employee | $142,821 average total compensation | Separate base salary from bonus and equity before comparing offers. |
| Duke Energy employee salaries by role | Energy Trader: $122,000 | Petroleum Engineer: $117,000 | Drilling Engineer: $112,000 | Use role-specific benchmarks instead of negotiating from the company average alone. |
| Duke Energy salary range 2025-2026 | $61,209 to $163,224 across listed entry-to-senior levels | Adjust for level, team, location, bonus cycle, and Charlotte, NC cost context. |
Company-specific pay benchmark
Duke Energy Employee Salaries by Role: 2025-2026 Snapshot
Duke Energy employee salaries average $102,015 base pay and $142,821 average total compensation in this 2025-2026 benchmark. Within Energy, that puts Duke Energy below the peer salary average of $122,531 by -17%. Use this snapshot to compare base salary, bonus potential, senior-level upside, and role-specific pay before accepting or negotiating an offer.
Vs. Energy peers
-17%
peer avg $122,531
Total comp position
-13%
peer avg $163,733
Role pay spread
$32,000
HSE Manager to Energy Trader
Senior premium
+167%
senior vs entry-level salary
| Negotiation area | Duke Energy benchmark | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $102,015 average, $91,814 median | Compare the offer against the Energy peer average and your exact role level. |
| Bonus target | 11% target, about $11,222 on average salary | Ask whether the target is guaranteed, discretionary, prorated, or tied to company performance. |
| Equity or incentives | 29% of estimated total comp is above base salary | Check vesting schedule, refresh grants, strike price or RSU value, and liquidity timing. |
| Location economics | Charlotte, NC headquarters, $8,501 monthly average pay | Adjust for state taxes, local taxes, rent, commute cost, hybrid policy, and relocation support. |
Duke Energy Salary by Level
Salary progression from entry-level to director positions at Duke Energy.
Entry-level employees at Duke Energy earn around $61,209, while directors can earn $252,997 or more.
Duke Energy Average Pay by Role
| Role | Base Salary | Est. Total Comp |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Trader | $122,000 | $135,420 |
| Petroleum Engineer | $117,000 | $129,870 |
| Drilling Engineer | $112,000 | $124,320 |
| Reservoir Engineer | $110,000 | $122,100 |
| HSE Manager | $90,000 | $99,900 |
Total compensation estimates include base salary and an average 11% bonus. Stock options/equity are offered but vary significantly by role and level.
Duke Energy Benefits & Perks
Duke Energy Salary Calculator
Select a role and experience level to estimate your salary at Duke Energy.
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
Estimated Salary at Duke Energy
$94,000
$7,833/month · $45.19/hr
Est. total comp with 11% bonus: $104,340
About Duke Energy
Duke Energy, headquartered in Charlotte, NC, is a major player in the energy industry. Employing approximately 28K professionals, the company is known for its strong market presence and attractive compensation programs.
Headquarters
Charlotte, NC
Founded
1904
Industry
Energy
Company Size
large
Employees
27,600
Median Salary
$91,814
Hourly Rate
$49.05/hr
Monthly Pay
$8,501
Duke Energy Employee Ratings
4
★★★★☆
Overall Rating
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Methodology & Sources for Duke Energy Salary Data
How we estimate Duke Energy compensation data: Our salary figures combine self-reported employee compensation data (Glassdoor, Levels.fyi, Comparably, Blind), SEC filings for public companies (DEF 14A proxy statements include executive compensation), and BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for industry baselines. We weight recent data points (last 2 years) higher to reflect current market conditions.
- Base salary distribution aggregated from employee-reported data points. Duke Energy (founded 1904, 28K employees, headquartered in Charlotte, NC) is in the Energy sector.
- Total compensation includes base salary, bonus, and where applicable, equity or other long-term incentives. At Duke Energy, bonuses vary by role, level, location, performance cycle, and business division.
- Level mapping normalizes role names across companies (Entry/Junior/Mid/Senior/Lead/Principal/Director) for cross-company comparison.
- Cost-of-living adjustment uses BLS regional CPI-U data when comparing Duke Energy's Charlotte, NC salaries to other markets.
- Industry benchmarking compares Duke Energy compensation to BLS national averages for Energy sector occupations.
Authoritative compensation data sources:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — national salary baselines for Energy
- SEC EDGAR — Company Filings — public company executive compensation in DEF 14A proxies
- BLS Industries at a Glance — Energy — sector employment, wages, productivity
- BLS Employment Cost Index — quarterly compensation trend data
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) — county-level wage data by industry
- DOL Wage and Hour Division — federal wage compliance and minimum wage
Disclaimer: Duke Energy compensation data is aggregated from multiple sources and reflects general patterns, not guaranteed offers. Actual salaries vary based on level, location, negotiation, performance, and equity vesting. For personalized career advice, consult HR professionals or executive coaches. For job offers, always negotiate based on multiple data points and your unique value.
Reviewed by Brazora Monk · Last updated May 12, 2026 · BLS data current as of latest annual release
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