Chemical Engineer salary in Raleigh, NC

Based on 21 certified H-1B filings in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Morrisville, Cary, Apex, Franklinton, New Hill.

Also listed as: Process Engineer

Median salary$77,000
Middle 50%$61k–$106k
vs. national median−35%comparison median $118,700
Filings21FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $58,656 and $221,760.
PercentileSalary
10th$58,656
25th$61,000
50th (median)$77,000
75th$106,018
90th$142,008

Cost of living

Raleigh's median Chemical Engineer salary of $77,000 is worth about $78,400 at national average prices.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Raleigh = 98.2).

Compared with all workers here

All Chemical Engineers in the Raleigh, NC area earned a median of $111,210 in May 2025 (90 employed). The H-1B median here is $77,000, 31% lower.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.

Top employers filing

EmployerMedianFilings
North Carolina State University$60,50010
Novozymes North Americatoo few3
Technosoft Engineeringtoo few2

Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.

By experience level

Wage levelMedianFilings
Entry-level · Level I $61,500 12
Mid-level · Level II too few 2
Senior · Level III – 0
Expert · Level IV – 0

Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.

Minimum H-1B salary by level

Wage levelPrevailing wage (most common)Median offered salaryFilings
Entry-level · Level I$51,792$61,50012

The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.