Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists Salary
The median pay for a medical scientists, except epidemiologists in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC is $96,430/year ($46.36/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 $98,832 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,711/month, or 27.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $96K 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 medical scientists, except epidemiologists
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What this looks like in Durham-Chapel Hill
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists pay in Durham-Chapel Hill tracks closely to the national median, $96K locally vs. $103K nationwide, a 7% difference. Rent runs $1,711/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.6% 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. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for medical scientists, except epidemiologists in metros near Durham-Chapel Hill, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Winston-Salem | $84K | $91K |
| Raleigh-Cary | $105K | $106K |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $97K | $100K |
| Wilmington | $99K | $103K |
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 medical scientists, except epidemiologists (10th percentile) start around $65K. Mid-career wages sit at $96K. Top earners bring in $173K or more, a $109K spread from bottom to top.
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $137K | +32% | 29,830 |
| New Jersey | $129K | +25% | 6,120 |
| Massachusetts | $128K | +24% | 17,100 |
| Connecticut | $117K | +13% | 2,410 |
| Arizona | $117K | +13% | 2,190 |
| Oregon | $111K | +7% | 1,030 |
| Maryland | $106K | +3% | 6,760 |
| Washington | $106K | +2% | 6,150 |
| Alaska | $105K | +1% | 260 |
| Rhode Island | $103K | -0% | 670 |
| North Carolina | $103K | -0% | 5,730 |
| Tennessee | $103K | -1% | 4,020 |
| Missouri | $103K | -1% | 3,650 |
| Montana | $102K | -1% | 320 |
| District of Columbia | $102K | -1% | 670 |
| New Hampshire | $101K | -3% | 210 |
| Delaware | $100K | -3% | 270 |
| Pennsylvania | $99K | -4% | 12,630 |
| Nevada | $99K | -5% | 530 |
| Florida | $95K | -8% | 6,490 |
| Maine | $94K | -9% | 100 |
| Virginia | $94K | -9% | 4,560 |
| Georgia | $92K | -11% | 1,910 |
| Minnesota | $90K | -13% | 6,760 |
| New York | $88K | -15% | 7,690 |
| Kansas | $84K | -18% | 1,070 |
| Michigan | $84K | -18% | 2,370 |
| Ohio | $84K | -19% | 4,840 |
| Iowa | $84K | -19% | 1,060 |
| Idaho | $83K | -20% | 380 |
| Utah | $83K | -20% | 1,560 |
| West Virginia | $83K | -20% | 330 |
| Wisconsin | $83K | -20% | 2,970 |
| Illinois | $82K | -20% | 4,700 |
| Indiana | $81K | -22% | 2,010 |
| Nebraska | $81K | -22% | 620 |
| South Dakota | $81K | -22% | 140 |
| Texas | $80K | -22% | 11,920 |
| Kentucky | $78K | -25% | 670 |
| Oklahoma | $76K | -26% | 920 |
| Arkansas | $73K | -30% | 230 |
| Alabama | $68K | -34% | N/A |
| New Mexico | $67K | -35% | 340 |
| Vermont | $67K | -36% | 110 |
| North Dakota | $64K | -38% | 250 |
| Mississippi | $54K | -48% | 440 |
Showing 1–10 of 46 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track medical scientists, except epidemiologists 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 medical scientists, except epidemiologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Yes — at the median salary of $96K, rent takes 28.6% 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 medical scientists, except epidemiologists in Durham-Chapel Hill?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new medical scientists, except epidemiologists typically earn — is $65K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,888/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 medical scientists, except epidemiologist a high-paying job in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $96K locally vs. $103K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Durham-Chapel Hill compare to the national average for medical scientists, except epidemiologists?
Durham-Chapel Hill pays $96K median vs. the U.S. average of $103K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.57), the purchasing-power equivalent is $99K — below the national median.
How much do medical scientists, except epidemiologists make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median is $96,430 a year, that works out to about $46 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $64,800, and experienced medical scientists, except epidemiologists can clear $173,310. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $96K enough to live in Durham-Chapel Hill?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,990/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,711/month, which eats 28.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a medical scientists, except epidemiologists 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 medical scientists, except epidemiologists salary is worth about $98,832 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do medical scientists, except epidemiologists 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.