Chemists in North Carolina. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where North Carolina chemists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $66,760 and $106,240, with a median of $82,620.
Chemists in North Carolina: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 108 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $85,000. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 21 | $61,572 |
| Level II — qualified | 29 | $78,689 |
| Level III — experienced | 23 | $92,206 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 34 | $102,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Chemists in North Carolina. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALCAMI CAROLINAS CORPORATION | SENIOR SCIENTIST, FORMULATIONS | 6 | $101,500 |
| Cambrex High Point, Inc. | Senior Scientist 2 | 6 | $91,729 |
| KBI Biopharma, Inc. | Data Reviewer/Scientist 1 | 6 | $98,000 |
| Biolink Life Sciences Carolinas Inc. | Analytical Chemist | 5 | $61,000 |
| Duke University | Postdoctoral Associate | 5 | $64,170 |
| North Carolina State University | Research Associate | 5 | $67,496 |
| Research Triangle Institute (U.S.) | Chemist 2 | 5 | $75,405 |
| Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. | R&D/Mfg Scientist III | 5 | $73,736 |
| Catalent Pharma Solutions | Development Scientist | 4 | $103,312 |
| MedPharm Manufacturing Services LLC | Manager, Pharmaceutical Sciences | 4 | $104,564 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Postdoctoral Research Associate at UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL$81,869Chapel HillWage Level IIIDecided Mar 12, 2026I-200-26064-681619
- Validation Engineer III at Exela Pharma Sciences, LLC$102,000LenoirWage Level IVDecided Feb 23, 2026I-200-26044-641406
- Senior Scientific Engineer at Ten63 Therapeutics Inc.$160,000DurhamWage Level IVDecided Feb 9, 2026I-200-26033-615109
- POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOW-CHEMISTRY at WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY$53,102WINSTON SALEMWage Level IDecided Feb 5, 2026I-200-26029-603665
- Scientist, Formulation at Biolink Life Sciences Carolinas Inc.$75,000CaryWage Level IIDecided Jan 22, 2026I-200-26014-560221
- SENIOR SCIENTIST, FORMULATIONS at ALCAMI CAROLINAS CORPORATION$101,000MORRISVILLEWage Level IVDecided Jan 15, 2026I-200-26008-545347
- Research Associate at Duke University$82,000DurhamWage Level IIIDecided Jan 13, 2026I-200-26006-536773
- POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOW-CHEMISTRY at WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY$53,102WINSTON SALEMWage Level IDecided Dec 24, 2025I-200-25351-490512
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Chemists pay by experience level in North Carolina
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Chemists specialties in North Carolina
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 51 certified offers. The most common variant is Senior Scientist at a median of $90,865.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Scientist | ALCAMI CAROLINAS CORPORATION | 16 | $90,865 |
| Chemist | Research Triangle Institute (U.S.) | 5 | $75,405 |
| R&D/Mfg Scientist | Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. | 5 | $73,736 |
| Research Associate | North Carolina State University | 5 | $66,602 |
| Associate Manager, Quality Control Chemistry | MedPharm Manufacturing Services LLC | 5 | $109,128 |
| Senior Scientist 3 “ CRD | Cambrex High Point, Inc. | 3 | $97,000 |
| Principal Analytical Scientist | Sterling Pharma USA, LLC | 3 | $101,296 |
| Development Scientist | Catalent Pharma Solutions | 3 | $88,000 |
| Postdoctoral Associate | Duke University | 3 | $62,000 |
| Analytical Chemist | Biolink Life Sciences Carolinas Inc. | 3 | $65,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Chemists in North Carolina, by industry
Median offered wage across 108 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Manufacturing leads with a median of $95,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | ALCAMI CAROLINAS CORPORATION | 45 | $95,000 |
| Professional services | KBI Biopharma, Inc. | 38 | $88,000 |
| Education | Duke University | 19 | $66,602 |
| Technology and software | Sain Technologies LLC | 3 | $60,000 |
| Healthcare | Carolinas Physicians Network, Inc. d/b/a | 2 | $65,312 |
| Retail and wholesale | Aurobindo Pharma USA, Inc. | 1 | $92,206 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in North Carolina over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.9 / 5
Chemistry
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Science
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Critical Thinking
Cross-functional
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Develop, improve, or customize products, equipment, formulas, processes, or analytical methods.
- 02
Analyze organic or inorganic compounds to determine chemical or physical properties, composition, structure, relationships, or reactions, using chromatography, spectroscopy, or spectrophotometry techniques.
- 03
Induce changes in composition of substances by introducing heat, light, energy, or chemical catalysts for quantitative or qualitative analysis.
- 04
Conduct quality control tests.
- 05
Write technical papers or reports or prepare standards and specifications for processes, facilities, products, or tests.
- 06
Prepare test solutions, compounds, or reagents for laboratory personnel to conduct tests.
- 07
Maintain laboratory instruments to ensure proper working order and troubleshoot malfunctions when needed.
- 08
Study effects of various methods of processing, preserving, or packaging on composition or properties of foods.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+4.8%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Chemists in North Carolina?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Chemists in North Carolina is $82,620.
- How does North Carolina compare to the national median for Chemists?
- The North Carolina median is -11.2% versus the BLS national figure of $93,017.
- What is the salary range for Chemists in North Carolina?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $58,170 and the 90th-percentile at $132,020, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Chemists a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 4.8% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Chemists?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.