Chemist salary in Durham, NC
Based on 51 certified H-1B filings in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Chapel Hill, Morrisville, Research Triangle Park.
Also listed as: Quality Control Chemist, Analytical Chemist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $64,170 |
| 25th | $77,251 |
| 50th (median) | $92,206 |
| 75th | $102,866 |
| 90th | $124,663 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $72,238 | $55,182 | $90,750 | 13 |
| FY2021 | $78,603 | $60,000 | $90,000 | 29 |
| FY2022 | $77,207 | $64,470 | $103,750 | 22 |
| FY2023 | $90,000 | $69,285 | $107,500 | 15 |
| FY2024 | $80,000 | $62,000 | $97,000 | 17 |
| FY2025 | $85,000 | $77,251 | $100,500 | 31 |
| FY2026 | $99,563 | $80,325 | $103,400 | 20 |
Cost of living
Durham's median Chemist salary of $92,206 is worth about $94,500 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Durham = 97.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Chemists in the Durham, NC area earned a median of $81,580 in May 2025 (1,140 employed). The H-1B median here is $92,206, 13% higher.
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
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| KBI Biopharma | too few | 8 |
| Duke University | too few | 5 |
| Research Triangle Institute | too few | 5 |
| Alcami Carolinas | too few | 4 |
| MedPharm Manufacturing Services | too few | 4 |
| University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill | too few | 4 |
| Aurolife Pharma | too few | 3 |
| Symmetry Biosciences | too few | 3 |
| Ten63 Therapeutics | too few | 3 |
| Avista Pharma Solutions | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | too few | 9 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $80,000 | 13 |
| Senior · Level III | $93,000 | 15 |
| Expert · Level IV | $103,600 | 14 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-level · Level II | $77,251 | $80,000 | 13 |
| Senior · Level III | $92,206 | $93,000 | 15 |
| Expert · Level IV | $102,731 | $103,600 | 14 |
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.