Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other Salary
The median pay for a social scientists and related workers, all other in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC is $81,420/year ($39.15/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $65K at the entry level to $130K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.57), that's roughly $83,448 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,711/month, about 32.6% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $81K 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 social scientists and related workers, all others
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What this looks like in Durham-Chapel Hill
Pay for social scientists and related workers, all other in Durham-Chapel Hill runs about 19% below the U.S. median of $101K. Rent runs $1,711/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.1% 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 social scientists and related workers, all others in metros near Durham-Chapel Hill, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary | $75K | $77K |
| Fayetteville | $108K | $117K |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $91K | $93K |
| Asheville | $76K | $79K |
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 social scientists and related workers, all others (10th percentile) start around $65K. Mid-career wages sit at $81K. Top earners bring in $130K or more, a $65K spread from bottom to top.
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $141K | +39% | 3,380 |
| Maryland | $132K | +30% | 2,600 |
| District of Columbia | $128K | +27% | 2,480 |
| Massachusetts | $106K | +4% | 820 |
| Colorado | $105K | +4% | 790 |
| New York | $105K | +4% | 3,410 |
| Nebraska | $104K | +3% | 120 |
| Minnesota | $103K | +2% | 1,000 |
| Washington | $103K | +2% | 1,160 |
| Texas | $102K | +1% | 2,260 |
| New Jersey | $101K | +0% | 350 |
| Arizona | $99K | -2% | 600 |
| Illinois | $99K | -2% | 730 |
| Ohio | $99K | -2% | 1,520 |
| California | $98K | -3% | 2,970 |
| Pennsylvania | $98K | -3% | 620 |
| Oregon | $96K | -5% | 350 |
| Nevada | $96K | -5% | 180 |
| Alabama | $95K | -6% | 320 |
| West Virginia | $95K | -7% | 190 |
| Hawaii | $93K | -8% | 430 |
| Delaware | $92K | -9% | 100 |
| Iowa | $92K | -9% | 150 |
| Utah | $92K | -9% | 180 |
| Georgia | $91K | -10% | 1,510 |
| New Mexico | $91K | -10% | 170 |
| Louisiana | $91K | -10% | 560 |
| Rhode Island | $90K | -11% | 110 |
| Indiana | $89K | -12% | N/A |
| Wisconsin | $89K | -12% | 260 |
| Wyoming | $89K | -12% | 40 |
| Idaho | $89K | -12% | 70 |
| Oklahoma | $89K | -12% | 220 |
| New Hampshire | $87K | -14% | 130 |
| South Dakota | $86K | -15% | 70 |
| Mississippi | $86K | -15% | 170 |
| Kansas | $85K | -16% | 310 |
| Michigan | $84K | -17% | 660 |
| South Carolina | $84K | -17% | 300 |
| Florida | $83K | -17% | 1,740 |
| Montana | $82K | -19% | 170 |
| North Carolina | $81K | -19% | 1,770 |
| Tennessee | $81K | -20% | 320 |
| Missouri | $81K | -20% | 330 |
| Vermont | $79K | -21% | 110 |
| Kentucky | $79K | -22% | 350 |
| North Dakota | $76K | -24% | 120 |
| Arkansas | $76K | -24% | 250 |
| Maine | $74K | -27% | 40 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track social scientists and related workers, all other 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 social scientists and related workers, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Durham-Chapel Hill?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $81K, rent takes 33.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,711/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for social scientists and related workers, all others in Durham-Chapel Hill?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new social scientists and related workers, all others typically earn — is $65K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,926/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 social scientists and related workers, all other a high-paying job in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Local pay runs 19% below the national median — $81K here vs. $101K nationally.
How does Durham-Chapel Hill compare to the national average for social scientists and related workers, all others?
Durham-Chapel Hill pays $81K median vs. the U.S. average of $101K — that’s -19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.57), the purchasing-power equivalent is $83K — below the national median.
How much do social scientists and related workers, all others make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median is $81,420 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $65,440, and experienced social scientists and related workers, all others can clear $130,160. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $81K enough to live in Durham-Chapel Hill?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,167/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,711/month, which eats 33.1% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a social scientists and related workers, all other 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 social scientists and related workers, all other salary is worth about $83,448 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do social scientists and related workers, all others 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.