Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists Salary
The median pay for a market research analysts and marketing specialists in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC is $93,110/year ($44.76/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $179K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.57), that's roughly $95,429 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,711/month, or 28.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $93K 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 market research analysts and marketing specialists
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What this looks like in Durham-Chapel Hill
Durham-Chapel Hill sits well above the national pay line for market research analysts and marketing specialists, local pay runs about 18% higher than the U.S. median of $79K. Rent runs $1,711/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. 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 market research analysts and marketing specialists in metros near Durham-Chapel Hill, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $83K | $85K |
| Raleigh-Cary | $79K | $80K |
| Greensboro-High Point | $74K | $80K |
| Winston-Salem | $73K | $80K |
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 market research analysts and marketing specialists (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $93K. Top earners bring in $179K or more, a $129K spread from bottom to top.
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $102K | +29% | 39,710 |
| Delaware | $101K | +29% | 3,570 |
| New York | $99K | +25% | 80,500 |
| District of Columbia | $98K | +25% | 6,340 |
| Washington | $95K | +21% | 24,460 |
| California | $95K | +20% | 119,070 |
| Colorado | $93K | +18% | 27,880 |
| New Jersey | $88K | +12% | 22,990 |
| Minnesota | $88K | +11% | 21,280 |
| Rhode Island | $86K | +9% | 3,210 |
| Oregon | $79K | +0% | 11,310 |
| Illinois | $79K | +0% | 40,560 |
| North Carolina | $78K | -0% | 30,700 |
| Connecticut | $78K | -1% | 9,930 |
| Virginia | $77K | -2% | 25,610 |
| Maryland | $76K | -3% | 13,570 |
| Georgia | $76K | -4% | 27,810 |
| Florida | $75K | -4% | 60,770 |
| Vermont | $75K | -5% | 860 |
| Ohio | $73K | -8% | 27,370 |
| Texas | $73K | -8% | 63,350 |
| Maine | $72K | -9% | 2,390 |
| Arizona | $72K | -9% | 15,850 |
| Nevada | $72K | -9% | 5,780 |
| Kansas | $70K | -11% | 8,090 |
| Missouri | $70K | -11% | 14,890 |
| Tennessee | $70K | -11% | 13,040 |
| South Carolina | $69K | -12% | 11,920 |
| Pennsylvania | $69K | -13% | 31,040 |
| Montana | $68K | -14% | 1,460 |
| Michigan | $67K | -15% | 24,220 |
| Alaska | $67K | -15% | 570 |
| Iowa | $66K | -16% | 8,880 |
| Arkansas | $65K | -17% | 6,250 |
| Wisconsin | $65K | -18% | 15,600 |
| New Hampshire | $65K | -18% | 4,200 |
| Indiana | $64K | -19% | 14,400 |
| South Dakota | $63K | -19% | 1,530 |
| Utah | $63K | -20% | 14,510 |
| New Mexico | $62K | -21% | 1,610 |
| Oklahoma | $62K | -21% | 6,620 |
| North Dakota | $62K | -22% | 1,550 |
| Kentucky | $61K | -22% | 6,290 |
| Wyoming | $61K | -23% | 850 |
| Idaho | $61K | -23% | 3,780 |
| Nebraska | $60K | -24% | 3,780 |
| Louisiana | $60K | -24% | 5,360 |
| Alabama | $60K | -24% | 8,390 |
| Hawaii | $59K | -25% | 1,610 |
| Mississippi | $57K | -28% | 2,620 |
| West Virginia | $52K | -34% | 1,650 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track market research analysts and marketing specialists salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a market research analysts and marketing specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Yes — at the median salary of $93K, rent takes 29.5% 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 market research analysts and marketing specialists in Durham-Chapel Hill?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new market research analysts and marketing specialists typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,005/month. At HUD’s $1,711/month FMR, rent would take 57% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is market research analysts and marketing specialist a high-paying job in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Local pay is 18% above the national median — $93K here vs. $79K nationally.
How does Durham-Chapel Hill compare to the national average for market research analysts and marketing specialists?
Durham-Chapel Hill pays $93K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s +18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.57), the purchasing-power equivalent is $95K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do market research analysts and marketing specialists make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median is $93,110 a year, that works out to about $45 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,080, and experienced market research analysts and marketing specialists can clear $178,870. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $93K enough to live in Durham-Chapel Hill?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,808/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,711/month, which eats 29.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a market research analysts and marketing specialists 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 market research analysts and marketing specialists salary is worth about $95,429 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do market research analysts and marketing specialists 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.