Materials Scientist salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Materials Scientists in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $123,070 a year ($59.17 an hour), based on BLS data for 110 workers.
Pay ranges from $64,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $173,020 for the top 10%. That is 4% higher than the national median of $117,790. Pay here is 16% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $106,470. There are 0.33 materials scientists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 6.1× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $112,420, close to the median.
Pay range for materials scientists in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,670 | $31.09 |
| 25th percentile | $72,050 | $34.64 |
| Median | $123,070 | $59.17 |
| 75th percentile | $133,480 | $64.17 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $173,020 | $83.18 |
| Average (mean) | $112,420 | $54.05 |
Half of materials scientists 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 | $10,255.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,127.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,733.46 |
| Weekly | $2,366.73 |
| Hourly | $59.17 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Materials Scientist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $106,470 | 60 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $102,070 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for materials scientists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $177,030 |
| Oregon | $150,550 |
| Wisconsin | $137,700 |
| District of Columbia | $137,600 |
| Massachusetts | $132,600 |
| Minnesota | $132,160 |
| New York | $131,740 |
| Indiana | $130,540 |
| Connecticut | $130,320 |
| Washington | $127,250 |
See Materials Scientist pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Chemist | $81,580 | $39.22 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $82,840 | $39.83 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $128,380 | $61.72 |
| 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 19-2032. 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 materials scientist make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for materials scientists in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $123,070 a year, or $59.17 an hour. Pay ranges from $64,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $173,020 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials scientists make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of materials scientists in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $173,020 a year. The top 25% earn $133,480 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials scientists in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $64,670 a year, and a quarter of materials scientists earn $72,050 or less.
How many materials scientists work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 110 materials scientists are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.