Chemical Technician salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Chemical Technicians in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $64,500 a year ($31.01 an hour), based on BLS data for 370 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,370 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,630 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $60,390. Pay here is 9% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $59,030. There are 1.1 chemical technicians per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $67,170, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chemical technicians in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,370 | $23.25 |
| 25th percentile | $51,340 | $24.68 |
| Median | $64,500 | $31.01 |
| 75th percentile | $79,960 | $38.44 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $83,630 | $40.21 |
| Average (mean) | $67,170 | $32.29 |
Half of chemical technicians earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,375 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,687.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,480.77 |
| Weekly | $1,240.38 |
| Hourly | $31.01 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chemical Technician salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Winston-Salem, NC | $68,630 | 90 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $63,640 | 280 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $61,730 | 480 |
| Wilmington, NC | $61,200 | 100 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $55,800 | 200 |
| Asheville, NC | $55,720 | 30 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $50,510 | 80 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $49,820 | 200 |
Highest-paying states for chemical technicians
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Louisiana | $85,850 |
| Alaska | $79,380 |
| Delaware | $78,620 |
| South Carolina | $75,020 |
| Missouri | $68,550 |
| Massachusetts | $67,570 |
| Arizona | $65,860 |
| Vermont | $65,560 |
| Hawaii | $63,910 |
| Colorado | $63,770 |
See Chemical Technician pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Biological Technician | $58,400 | $28.08 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $62,650 | $30.12 |
| Forest and Conservation Technicians | $50,080 | $24.08 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $49,030 | $23.57 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $96,430 | $46.36 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $98,700 | $47.45 |
| Chemist | $81,580 | $39.22 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $105,850 | $50.89 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $82,840 | $39.83 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $81,420 | $39.15 |
| Microbiologist | $85,860 | $41.28 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $128,380 | $61.72 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $98,490 | $47.35 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $93,420 | $44.91 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-4031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chemical technician make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for chemical technicians in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $64,500 a year, or $31.01 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,370 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,630 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemical technicians make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of chemical technicians in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $83,630 a year. The top 25% earn $79,960 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemical technicians in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,370 a year, and a quarter of chemical technicians earn $51,340 or less.
How many chemical technicians work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 370 chemical technicians are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.