Chemical Engineers pay range in Raleigh
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $81,020 a year or less, while the top 10% make $170,910 or more. The middle half of chemical engineers in Raleigh earn between $94,460 and $146,210.
- $81K10th
- $94K25th
- $111KMedian
- $146K75th
- $171K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $123,830 | $10,319 | $59.53 |
| Median | $111,210 | $9,268 | $53.47 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $94,460 | $7,872 | $45.41 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $146,210 | $12,184 | $70.29 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chemical Engineers pay in Raleigh vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Chemical engineers in Raleigh earn about the same as the North Carolina average ($123,550) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($129,980). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $125,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh | $123,830 | $111,210 | $81,020 | $170,910 | 90 |
| 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 Raleigh
On the average salary of $123,830, a single filer in Raleigh takes home about $91,472 a year, or $7,623 a month and $3,518 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 Raleigh a good place for chemical engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Raleigh area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.2), so the average $123,830 buys what about $126,155 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Raleigh ($51,990). A typical home costs $438,364, or 3.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Chemical Engineers salary in other North Carolina cities
Raleigh ranks 3rd 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 Raleigh: questions
How much do chemical engineers make an hour in Raleigh?
$59.53 an hour on average, and $53.47 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chemical engineers salary in Raleigh?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $81,020 a year and the 25th percentile is $94,460, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chemical engineers take-home pay in Raleigh?
About $91,472 a year ($7,623 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $123,830.
Do chemical engineers earn more in Raleigh than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% 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 Raleigh-Cary, NC (39580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.9%.
- 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 0.85, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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