Computer and Information Research Scientists Salary
Computer and Information Research Scientists in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC make a median of $136,990 a year, or about $65.86 an hour. The range runs from $78K at the entry level to $231K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.57), that's roughly $140,402 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,711/month, or 20.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $137K get you in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Durham-Chapel Hill’s Regional Price Parity (97.57). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About computer and information research scientists
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What this looks like in Durham-Chapel Hill
Computer and information research scientists pay in Durham-Chapel Hill tracks closely to the national median, $137K locally vs. $140K nationwide, a 2% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,711/month, 20.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 97.57) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for computer and information research scientists in metros near Durham-Chapel Hill, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary | $128K | $131K |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $103K | $105K |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $111K | $115K |
| Warner Robins | $90K | $95K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Entry-level computer and information research scientists (10th percentile) start around $78K. Mid-career wages sit at $137K. Top earners bring in $231K or more, a $154K spread from bottom to top.
Computer and Information Research Scientists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Computer and Information Research Scientists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $206K | +47% | 730 |
| Washington | $202K | +44% | 2,050 |
| New York | $182K | +30% | 1,950 |
| Massachusetts | $171K | +22% | 1,760 |
| New Mexico | $166K | +18% | 490 |
| California | $159K | +13% | 8,440 |
| Virginia | $157K | +12% | 3,590 |
| Maryland | $145K | +4% | 2,870 |
| District of Columbia | $144K | +3% | 330 |
| New Jersey | $141K | +0% | 1,580 |
| Illinois | $137K | -3% | 630 |
| New Hampshire | $136K | -3% | 90 |
| Minnesota | $136K | -3% | 30 |
| Ohio | $136K | -3% | 280 |
| Hawaii | $134K | -4% | 70 |
| Nevada | $134K | -4% | 80 |
| Colorado | $133K | -5% | 400 |
| Connecticut | $132K | -6% | N/A |
| Pennsylvania | $130K | -7% | 330 |
| Arizona | $130K | -8% | 360 |
| North Carolina | $128K | -9% | 600 |
| Missouri | $128K | -9% | 230 |
| South Carolina | $127K | -9% | 430 |
| Rhode Island | $121K | -13% | 500 |
| Texas | $121K | -14% | 1,960 |
| Florida | $120K | -15% | 1,070 |
| Alabama | $118K | -16% | 570 |
| Louisiana | $115K | -18% | 140 |
| Mississippi | $109K | -22% | 300 |
| Tennessee | $109K | -22% | N/A |
| Utah | $95K | -33% | 1,250 |
| Oklahoma | $93K | -34% | 590 |
| Georgia | $92K | -34% | 810 |
| Indiana | $85K | -39% | 720 |
| Michigan | $83K | -41% | 530 |
Showing 1–10 of 35 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track computer and information research scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Durham-Chapel Hill numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a computer and information research scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Yes — at the median salary of $137K, rent takes 20.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,711/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for computer and information research scientists in Durham-Chapel Hill?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer and information research scientists typically earn — is $78K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,658/month. At HUD’s $1,711/month FMR, rent would take 37% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is computer and information research scientist a high-paying job in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $137K locally vs. $140K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Durham-Chapel Hill compare to the national average for computer and information research scientists?
Durham-Chapel Hill pays $137K median vs. the U.S. average of $140K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.57), the purchasing-power equivalent is $140K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do computer and information research scientists make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median is $136,990 a year, that works out to about $66 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $77,630, and experienced computer and information research scientists can clear $231,160. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $137K enough to live in Durham-Chapel Hill?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,185/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,711/month, which eats 20.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a computer and information research scientists salary go in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Durham-Chapel Hill has a Regional Price Parity of 97.57 (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 computer and information research scientists salary is worth about $140,402 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do computer and information research scientists 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.