Chemical Engineers pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $82,520 a year or less, while the top 10% make $162,290 or more. The middle half of chemical engineers in Durham earn between $102,410 and $143,040.
- $83K10th
- $102K25th
- $117KMedian
- $143K75th
- $162K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $124,680 | $10,390 | $59.94 |
| Median | $117,440 | $9,787 | $56.46 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $102,410 | $8,534 | $49.24 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $143,040 | $11,920 | $68.77 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chemical Engineers pay in Durham vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Chemical engineers in Durham earn about the same as the North Carolina average ($123,550) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($129,980). At the median the gap is -6% against the U.S. median of $125,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $124,680 | $117,440 | $82,520 | $162,290 | 110 |
| North Carolina | $123,550 | $117,410 | $81,020 | $168,610 | 380 |
| United States | $129,980 | $125,040 | $79,420 | $182,880 | 21,070 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chemical Engineers salary after taxes in Durham
On the average salary of $124,680, a single filer in Durham takes home about $92,019 a year, or $7,668 a month and $3,539 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Durham a good place for chemical engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Durham area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.6), so the average $124,680 buys what about $127,783 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 3.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Chemical Engineers salary in other North Carolina cities
Durham ranks 2nd of 3 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Charlotte pays the most ($126,210).
Highest-paying cities for chemical engineers
Houston, TX pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($155,750).
- Houston, TX$155,750
- Austin, TX$149,140
- Dallas, TX$147,410
- Lake Charles, LA$144,900
- Trenton, NJ$144,720
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Chemical Engineers salary in Durham: questions
How much do chemical engineers make an hour in Durham?
$59.94 an hour on average, and $56.46 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chemical engineers salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $82,520 a year and the 25th percentile is $102,410, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chemical engineers take-home pay in Durham?
About $92,019 a year ($7,668 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $124,680.
Do chemical engineers earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% less than the U.S. average for this job ($129,980).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-2041; area Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.37, this job is 2.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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