Materials Scientists pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,670 a year or less, while the top 10% make $173,020 or more. The middle half of materials scientists in Durham earn between $72,050 and $133,480.
- $65K10th
- $72K25th
- $123KMedian
- $133K75th
- $173K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $112,420 | $9,368 | $54.05 |
| Median | $123,070 | $10,256 | $59.17 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $72,050 | $6,004 | $34.64 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $133,480 | $11,123 | $64.17 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Materials Scientists pay in Durham vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Materials scientists in Durham earn about the same as the North Carolina average ($110,700) and 11% less than the U.S. average ($126,180). At the median the gap is +4% against the U.S. median of $117,790.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $112,420 | $123,070 | $64,670 | $173,020 | 110 |
| North Carolina | $110,700 | $106,470 | $65,720 | $161,870 | 490 |
| United States | $126,180 | $117,790 | $66,820 | $197,290 | 8,470 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Materials Scientists salary after taxes in Durham
On the average salary of $112,420, a single filer in Durham takes home about $83,941 a year, or $6,995 a month and $3,228 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Durham a good place for materials scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Durham area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.6), so the average $112,420 buys what about $115,217 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 3.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Materials Scientists salary in other North Carolina cities
Durham ranks 2nd of 3 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Charlotte pays the most ($113,310).
- Charlotte$113,310
- Durham$112,420
- Greensboro$110,990
Highest-paying cities for materials scientists
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($225,960).
- San Francisco, CA$225,960
- San Jose, CA$225,780
- Los Angeles, CA$154,850
- Portland, OR$151,750
- Worcester, MA$150,530
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Materials Scientists salary in Durham: questions
How much do materials scientists make an hour in Durham?
$54.05 an hour on average, and $59.17 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level materials scientists salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,670 a year and the 25th percentile is $72,050, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the materials scientists take-home pay in Durham?
About $83,941 a year ($6,995 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $112,420.
Do materials scientists earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% less than the U.S. average for this job ($126,180).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-2032; area Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 6.06, this job is 6.1 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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