Research Scientist (Computer Science) salary in Raleigh, NC

Based on 22 certified H-1B filings in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Apex, Cary, Garner, Holly Springs.

Also listed as: Machine Learning Engineer, AI Researcher

Median salary$137,559
Middle 50%$125.7k–$160k
vs. national median−26%comparison median $185,536
Filings22FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $101,672 and $206,431.
PercentileSalary
10th$116,905
25th$125,662
50th (median)$137,559
75th$160,000
90th$173,875

Salary by year

Median salary

$70k $110k $150k FY2020: median $82,200 (17 filings) FY2021: median $91,999 (26 filings) FY2022: median $127,500 (11 filings) FY2023: median $130,000 (11 filings) FY2026: median $136,136 (14 filings) FY20 FY21 FY22 FY23 FY24 FY25 FY26

Filings per year

FY2020: 17 filings FY20 FY2021: 26 filings FY21 FY2022: 11 filings FY22 FY2023: 11 filings FY23 FY2024: 7 filings FY24 FY2025: 8 filings FY25 FY2026: 14 filings FY26 26
Shaded: FY2025–FY2026, the years behind the figures above. Median shown for years with at least 10 filings. FY2026 covers Q1–Q3 only.
Show as table
Fiscal yearMedianP25P75Filings
FY2020$82,200$68,000$95,00017
FY2021$91,999$73,819$128,56026
FY2022$127,500$100,038$145,11011
FY2023$130,000$116,334$144,69111
FY2024–––7
FY2025–––8
FY2026$136,136$126,087$158,00014

Cost of living

Raleigh's median Research Scientist (Computer Science) salary of $137,559 is worth about $140,100 at national average prices.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Raleigh = 98.2).

Compared with all workers here

All Computer and Information Research Scientists in the Raleigh, NC area earned a median of $128,370 in May 2025 (280 employed). The H-1B median here is $137,559, 7% 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

EmployerMedianFilings
Iqviatoo few3
Metatoo few2
MaestroQAtoo few2
Microsofttoo few2
Relxtoo few2

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

By experience level

Wage levelMedianFilings
Entry-level · Level I – 0
Mid-level · Level II $126,000 11
Senior · Level III too few 4
Expert · Level IV – 0

Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.

Minimum H-1B salary by level

Wage levelPrevailing wage (most common)Median offered salaryFilings
Mid-level · Level II$125,549$126,00011

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.