Senior Chemist salary in Durham, NC
Based on 15 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III 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 | $81,921 |
| 25th | $87,103 |
| 50th (median) | $93,000 |
| 75th | $98,198 |
| 90th | $106,864 |
Cost of living
Durham's median senior Chemist salary of $93,000 is worth about $95,300 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 $93,000, 14% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| KBI Biopharma | too few | 3 |
| Duke University | too few | 2 |
| MedPharm Manufacturing Services | too few | 2 |
| University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill | 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.