Materials Scientists Salary
The median pay for a materials scientists in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC is $123,070/year ($59.17/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $65K at the entry level to $173K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.57), that's roughly $126,135 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,711/month, or 22.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $123K 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 materials scientists
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What this looks like in Durham-Chapel Hill
Materials scientists pay in Durham-Chapel Hill tracks closely to the national median, $123K locally vs. $118K nationwide, a 4% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,711/month, 23% 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 materials scientists in metros near Durham-Chapel Hill, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $102K | $105K |
| Greensboro-High Point | $106K | $115K |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $93K | $93K |
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 materials scientists (10th percentile) start around $65K. Mid-career wages sit at $123K. Top earners bring in $173K or more, a $108K spread from bottom to top.
Materials Scientists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Materials Scientists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $177K | +50% | 1,030 |
| Oregon | $151K | +28% | 100 |
| Wisconsin | $138K | +17% | 70 |
| District of Columbia | $138K | +17% | N/A |
| Massachusetts | $133K | +13% | 890 |
| Minnesota | $132K | +12% | 290 |
| New York | $132K | +12% | 530 |
| Indiana | $131K | +11% | 320 |
| Connecticut | $130K | +11% | 50 |
| Washington | $127K | +8% | 290 |
| Utah | $127K | +8% | 110 |
| Illinois | $126K | +7% | 380 |
| Virginia | $124K | +5% | 100 |
| New Hampshire | $120K | +2% | 80 |
| Colorado | $117K | -0% | 370 |
| Kansas | $115K | -2% | 40 |
| Maryland | $112K | -5% | 270 |
| Ohio | $109K | -8% | 450 |
| Michigan | $107K | -9% | 230 |
| Pennsylvania | $107K | -9% | 100 |
| North Carolina | $106K | -10% | 490 |
| New Jersey | $103K | -12% | 440 |
| Florida | $102K | -13% | 200 |
| South Carolina | $102K | -13% | 80 |
| Nevada | $97K | -17% | 100 |
| Georgia | $92K | -22% | 350 |
| Iowa | $88K | -25% | 180 |
| Texas | $73K | -38% | 300 |
| Montana | $72K | -39% | 50 |
| Tennessee | $69K | -41% | 60 |
Showing 1–10 of 30 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track materials 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 materials scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Yes — at the median salary of $123K, rent takes 23% 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 materials scientists in Durham-Chapel Hill?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new materials scientists typically earn — is $65K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,880/month. At HUD’s $1,711/month FMR, rent would take 44% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is materials scientist a high-paying job in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $123K locally vs. $118K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Durham-Chapel Hill compare to the national average for materials scientists?
Durham-Chapel Hill pays $123K median vs. the U.S. average of $118K — that’s +4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.57), the purchasing-power equivalent is $126K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do materials scientists make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median is $123,070 a year, that works out to about $59 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $64,670, and experienced materials scientists can clear $173,020. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $123K enough to live in Durham-Chapel Hill?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,444/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,711/month, which eats 23% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a materials 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 materials scientists salary is worth about $126,135 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do materials 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.