Materials Scientists Salary in Durham, NC

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

Median annual salary $106,190 +1.9% vs national
Median hourly $51.05
10th percentile $61,050
90th percentile $150,570
Employed locally 170
National median $104,160

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Materials Scientists
in
Durham, NC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $61,050
    25th
    $62,040
    50th (median)
    $106,190
    75th
    $127,750
    90th
    $150,570

    Durham economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $81,017 2023 • Census ACS
    Materials Scientists salary vs area income 131% Median Materials Scientists salary is 31% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Materials Scientists

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $156,530
    Worcester, MA $142,900
    New Hampshire $136,300
    Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $135,510
    Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $133,530
    California $131,530

    Nearby metros — Materials Scientists salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $131,530
    Greensboro-High Point, NC $106,470
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $103,970
    Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $102,450
    Trenton-Princeton, NJ $92,790
    Manchester-Nashua, NH $92,470

    Related occupations in Durham, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Chemists$78,240
    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

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Materials Scientists make per hour in Durham?

    The median hourly wage for Materials Scientists in Durham, NC is $51.05, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $83.18 or more per hour.

    Is Durham above or below average for Materials Scientists salaries?

    The median Materials Scientists salary in Durham, NC is 1.9% above the national median of $104,160. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Materials Scientists in Durham?

    Entry-level Materials Scientists (10th percentile) earn around $61,050 per year in Durham, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $62,040.