Expert Chemist salary in Raleigh, NC

Based on 11 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Cary, Morrisville, Apex, Morrisvile, New Hill.

Also listed as: Quality Control Chemist, Analytical Chemist

Median salary$102,000
Middle 50%$101.3k–$126k
vs. all levels here+16%comparison median $88,000
Filings11FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $101,030 and $246,830.
PercentileSalary
10th$101,296
25th$101,296
50th (median)$102,000
75th$126,000
90th$128,297

Cost of living

Raleigh's median expert Chemist salary of $102,000 is worth about $103,900 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 $102,000, 21% 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

EmployerMedianFilings
Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition North Americatoo few3
Alcami Carolinastoo few3
Sterling Pharmatoo few2

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

By experience level

Wage levelMedianFilings
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 levelPrevailing wage (most common)Median offered salaryFilings
Expert · Level IV$101,296$102,00011

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.