Chemical Engineers Salary
Chemical Engineers in North Carolina make a median of $117,410 a year, or about $56.45 an hour. The range runs from $81K at the entry level to $169K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $126,711 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,284/month, or 17% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $117K get you in North Carolina?
About chemical engineers
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Chemical engineers pay in North Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $117K locally vs. $125K nationwide, a 6% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,284/month, 18% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Carolina
Entry-level chemical engineers (10th percentile) start around $81K. Mid-career wages sit at $117K. Top earners bring in $169K or more, a $88K spread from bottom to top.
Chemical Engineers salary by metro in North Carolina
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $117K | +0% | 110 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $116K | -1% | 110 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $111K | -5% | 90 |
Compare to other states
Track chemical engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a chemical engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $117K, rent takes 18% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for chemical engineers in North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chemical engineers typically earn — is $81K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,861/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 26% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is chemical engineer a high-paying job in North Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $117K locally vs. $125K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for chemical engineers?
North Carolina pays $117K median vs. the U.S. average of $125K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $127K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do chemical engineers make in North Carolina?
The median is $117,410 a year, that works out to about $56 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $81,020, and experienced chemical engineers can clear $168,610. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $117K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,142/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 18% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a chemical engineers salary go in North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median chemical engineers salary is worth about $126,711 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do chemical engineers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.