Chemists Salary in Durham, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Durham-Chapel Hill, NC

Median annual salary $78,240 -7% vs national
Median hourly $37.62
10th percentile $61,160
90th percentile $129,710
Employed locally 1,490
National median $84,150

Compare Chemists salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Durham, NC stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Chemists
in
Durham, NC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $61,160
    25th
    $66,830
    50th (median)
    $78,240
    75th
    $101,960
    90th
    $129,710

    Durham economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $81,017 2023 • Census ACS
    Chemists salary vs area income 97% Median Chemists salary is 3% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Chemists

    Metro areaMedian salary
    District of Columbia $153,320
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $145,430
    Albuquerque, NM $137,740
    New Mexico $134,370
    Maryland $131,910
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $130,830

    Nearby metros — Chemists salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $126,190
    Anchorage, AK $106,000
    Lawrence, KS $96,050
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $95,460
    Trenton-Princeton, NJ $86,090
    Winston-Salem, NC $83,130

    Related occupations in Durham, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists $104,300
    Biological Scientists, All Other $96,780
    Biological Technicians $41,060
    Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other $84,570
    Microbiologists $90,790
    Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health $79,180

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Chemists make per hour in Durham?

    The median hourly wage for Chemists in Durham, NC is $37.62, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $66.02 or more per hour.

    Is Durham above or below average for Chemists salaries?

    The median Chemists salary in Durham, NC is 7% below the national median of $84,150. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Chemists in Durham?

    Entry-level Chemists (10th percentile) earn around $61,160 per year in Durham, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $66,830.