Physicist salary in Durham, NC
Based on 15 certified H-1B filings in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, FY2025–FY2026.
Also listed as: Medical Physicist, Assistant Physicist
Median salary$84,989
Middle 50%$71.6k–$85.5k
vs. national median−6%comparison median $90,000
Filings15FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years
Salary range
National median
$50k$60k$70k$80k$90k$100k
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $67,018 |
| 25th | $71,585 |
| 50th (median) | $84,989 |
| 75th | $85,500 |
| 90th | $86,180 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 4 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 2 |
| FY2022 | – | – | – | 3 |
| FY2023 | $71,377 | $66,250 | $74,300 | 10 |
| FY2024 | $72,400 | $63,092 | $80,925 | 16 |
| FY2025 | $84,495 | $70,003 | $84,997 | 10 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 5 |
Cost of living
Durham's median Physicist salary of $84,989 is worth about $87,100 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Durham = 97.6).
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Duke University | $84,989 | 14 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $75,500 | 11 |
| Mid-level · Level II | too few | 3 |
| 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 level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $67,018 | $75,500 | 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.