Chemist salary in Raleigh-Cary, NC
Chemists in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn a median of $84,150 a year ($40.46 an hour), based on BLS data for 740 workers.
Pay ranges from $60,700 for the lowest-paid 10% to $131,980 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $91,240. Pay here is 2% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $82,620. There are 0.99 chemists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $91,560, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chemists in Raleigh-Cary, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,700 | $29.18 |
| 25th percentile | $66,290 | $31.87 |
| Median | $84,150 | $40.46 |
| 75th percentile | $106,570 | $51.23 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $131,980 | $63.45 |
| Average (mean) | $91,560 | $44.02 |
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 | $7,012.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,506.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,236.54 |
| Weekly | $1,618.27 |
| Hourly | $40.46 |
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 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $81,990 | 200 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $81,580 | 1,140 |
| 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 Raleigh-Cary, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $81,400 | $39.13 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $87,220 | $41.93 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $108,810 | $52.31 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $104,500 | $50.24 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $90,490 | $43.51 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $102,400 | $49.23 |
| Social Science Research Assistant | $65,330 | $31.41 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $96,560 | $46.42 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $75,350 | $36.23 |
| Biological Technician | $64,200 | $30.87 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $84,810 | $40.78 |
| Microbiologist | $85,010 | $40.87 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $57,890 | $27.83 |
| Chemical Technician | $63,640 | $30.60 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Raleigh-Cary, 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 Raleigh-Cary, NC?
The median salary for chemists in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area is $84,150 a year, or $40.46 an hour. Pay ranges from $60,700 for the lowest-paid 10% to $131,980 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemists make in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
The top 10% of chemists in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn at least $131,980 a year. The top 25% earn $106,570 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemists in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $60,700 a year, and a quarter of chemists earn $66,290 or less.
How many chemists work in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
About 740 chemists are employed in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.