Sociologists pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $68,610 a year or less, while the top 10% make $213,140 or more. The middle half of sociologists in Durham earn between $82,300 and $169,950.
- $69K10th
- $82K25th
- $127KMedian
- $170K75th
- $213K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $129,900 | $10,825 | $62.45 |
| Median | $126,760 | $10,563 | $60.94 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $82,300 | $6,858 | $39.57 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $169,950 | $14,162 | $81.71 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Sociologists pay in Durham vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Sociologists in Durham earn about the same as the North Carolina average ($129,740) and 13% more than the U.S. average ($114,920). At the median the gap is +20% against the U.S. median of $106,030.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $129,900 | $126,760 | $68,610 | $213,140 | n/a |
| North Carolina | $129,740 | $126,760 | $69,980 | $212,260 | 170 |
| United States | $114,920 | $106,030 | $65,160 | $172,550 | 2,260 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Sociologists salary after taxes in Durham
On the average salary of $129,900, a single filer in Durham takes home about $95,378 a year, or $7,948 a month and $3,668 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% 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 sociologists? 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 $129,900 buys what about $133,132 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 3.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Sociologists salary in nearby metro areas
- Washington, DC$105,420
- Columbus, OH$84,660
- Lansing, MI$81,650
- Boston, MA$123,880
- Riverside, CA$124,360
- Los Angeles, CA$125,220
Highest-paying cities for sociologists
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($131,480).
- San Francisco, CA$131,480
- Durham, NC$129,900
- Los Angeles, CA$125,220
- Riverside, CA$124,360
- Boston, MA$123,880
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Sociologists salary in Durham: questions
How much do sociologists make an hour in Durham?
$62.45 an hour on average, and $60.94 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level sociologists salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $68,610 a year and the 25th percentile is $82,300, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the sociologists take-home pay in Durham?
About $95,378 a year ($7,948 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $129,900.
Do sociologists earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% more than the U.S. average for this job ($114,920).
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 19-3041; area Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 21.1%.
- 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).
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