Chemist salary in Raleigh, NC
Based on 33 certified H-1B filings in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Cary, Morrisville, Apex, Morrisvile, New Hill.
Also listed as: Quality Control Chemist, Analytical Chemist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $60,789 |
| 25th | $66,602 |
| 50th (median) | $88,000 |
| 75th | $102,000 |
| 90th | $122,800 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $64,800 | $57,011 | $85,000 | 15 |
| FY2021 | $74,963 | $60,783 | $86,819 | 12 |
| FY2022 | $86,965 | $72,422 | $118,750 | 14 |
| FY2023 | $80,000 | $60,000 | $85,000 | 17 |
| FY2024 | – | – | – | 7 |
| FY2025 | $88,000 | $63,000 | $101,648 | 23 |
| FY2026 | $88,917 | $75,000 | $119,750 | 10 |
Cost of living
Raleigh's median Chemist salary of $88,000 is worth about $89,700 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Raleigh = 98.2).
Compared with all workers here
All Chemists in the Raleigh, NC area earned a median of $84,150 in May 2025 (740 employed). The H-1B median here is $88,000, 5% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina State University | too few | 8 |
| Biolink Life Sciences Carolinas | too few | 5 |
| Alcami Carolinas | too few | 4 |
| Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition North America | too few | 3 |
| Pace Analytical Life Sciences | too few | 3 |
| Sterling Pharma | 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 | 6 |
| Mid-level · Level II | too few | 6 |
| Senior · Level III | too few | 3 |
| Expert · Level IV | $102,000 | 11 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expert · Level IV | $101,296 | $102,000 | 11 |
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.