SOC 19-2031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chemists — Durham
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC · 8 metro areas compared
The median wage for Chemists in Durham, NC is $81,580 per year, 10.6% below the national median of $91,240.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Chemists in Durham, NC is $81,580 per year, 10.6% below the national median of $91,240. Pay ranges from under $63,260 at the tenth percentile to more than $137,320 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $78,000 to $109,460.
Employment stands at 1,140, or 3.3 jobs per thousand held locally. Winston-Salem leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $98,090. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 124th of 453 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $63,260 | −30.7% |
| 25th | $78,000 | −14.5% |
| Median (50th) | $81,580 | −10.6% |
| 75th | $109,460 | +20.0% |
| 90th | $137,320 | +50.5% |
| Mean | $95,490 | +4.7% |
Other metro areas in North Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Winston-Salem | $98,090 | 240 | |
| 2 | Greensboro | $97,690 | 300 | |
| 3 | Fayetteville | $92,080 | 30 | |
| 4 | Charlotte | $88,890 | 650 | |
| 5 | Raleigh | $84,150 | 740 | |
| 6 | Hickory | $80,860 | 110 | |
| 7 | Wilmington | $78,130 | 400 | |
| 8 | Asheville | $66,910 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Durham run 5.7% below the national average, so the median of $81,580 goes as far as $86,511 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 5.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$81,580as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$86,511US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $81,580 a year, 10.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $63,260 to $137,320 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,140 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Winston-Salem, at $98,090.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chemists in Durham, NC?
The median annual wage is $81,580, or $39.22 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 $91,240, so pay in Durham, NC is 10.6% 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 Durham, NC earns more than $137,320 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $63,260 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 Winston-Salem, at $98,090 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,140 jobs in this occupation in Durham, NC. 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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