Chemist salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Chemists in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $81,580 a year ($39.22 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,140 workers.
Pay ranges from $63,260 for the lowest-paid 10% to $137,320 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $91,240. Pay here is 1% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $82,620. There are 3.3 chemists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 6.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $95,490, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chemists in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,260 | $30.42 |
| 25th percentile | $78,000 | $37.50 |
| Median | $81,580 | $39.22 |
| 75th percentile | $109,460 | $52.62 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $137,320 | $66.02 |
| Average (mean) | $95,490 | $45.91 |
Half of chemists 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 | $6,798.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,399.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,137.69 |
| Weekly | $1,568.85 |
| Hourly | $39.22 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chemist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Winston-Salem, NC | $98,090 | 240 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $97,690 | 300 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $92,080 | 30 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $88,890 | 650 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $84,150 | 740 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $81,990 | 200 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $80,860 | 110 |
| Wilmington, NC | $78,130 | 400 |
| Asheville, NC | $66,910 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for chemists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $149,860 |
| Maryland | $140,670 |
| Delaware | $129,860 |
| New Mexico | $126,960 |
| Massachusetts | $125,000 |
| Alaska | $106,010 |
| Oregon | $104,590 |
| Louisiana | $103,890 |
| Wyoming | $102,000 |
| Colorado | $101,980 |
See Chemist pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $82,840 | $39.83 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $128,380 | $61.72 |
| Materials Scientist | $123,070 | $59.17 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $99,560 | $47.87 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $96,430 | $46.36 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $98,700 | $47.45 |
| Biological Technician | $58,400 | $28.08 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $105,850 | $50.89 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $81,420 | $39.15 |
| Microbiologist | $85,860 | $41.28 |
| Chemical Technician | $64,500 | $31.01 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $98,490 | $47.35 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $93,420 | $44.91 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $87,650 | $42.14 |
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 19-2031. 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 chemist make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for chemists in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $81,580 a year, or $39.22 an hour. Pay ranges from $63,260 for the lowest-paid 10% to $137,320 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemists make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of chemists in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $137,320 a year. The top 25% earn $109,460 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemists in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $63,260 a year, and a quarter of chemists earn $78,000 or less.
How many chemists work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 1,140 chemists are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.