SOC 17-2041 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chemical Engineers — North Carolina
North Carolina · 3 metro areas compared
The median wage for Chemical Engineers in North Carolina is $117,410 per year, close to the national median of $125,040 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Chemical Engineers in North Carolina is $117,410 per year, close to the national median of $125,040 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $81,020 at the tenth percentile to more than $168,610 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $95,920 to $141,260.
Employment stands at 380, or 0.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 41 states with published data for this occupation, North Carolina ranks 18th by median wage. Durham leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $117,440. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 65th of 745 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $81,020 | −35.2% |
| 25th | $95,920 | −23.3% |
| Median (50th) | $117,410 | −6.1% |
| 75th | $141,260 | +13.0% |
| 90th | $168,610 | +34.8% |
| Mean | $123,550 | −1.2% |
Highest-paying metro areas in North Carolina
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in North Carolina run 5.7% below the national average, so the median of $117,410 goes as far as $124,507 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 0.4% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$117,410as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$124,507US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $117,410 a year, 6.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $81,020 to $168,610 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 380 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 18th of 41 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Durham, at $117,440.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chemical Engineers in North Carolina?
The median annual wage is $117,410, or $56.45 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $125,040, so pay in North Carolina is 6.1% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in North Carolina earns more than $168,610 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $81,020 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Durham, at $117,440 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 380 jobs in this occupation in North Carolina. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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