Research Scientist Salary
in Raleigh
2026 · Official labour data · 8 comparison cities
Last updated: September 2026 · Source: BLS OEWS · modeled estimate, not a published figure for this area
Typical range: $66,121 – $100,420
How much does a Research Scientist make in Raleigh, NC?
A Research Scientist in Raleigh earns a median of $81,485/year (about $39/hour). Most earn between $66,121 (25th percentile) and $100,420 (75th percentile); top earners (90th percentile) make $121,248 or more — 0% above the US average. Figures are from BLS employer payroll data, not self-reports.
Understanding these Research Scientist salary numbers
We report percentiles, not a single average, because pay isn't evenly spread — a handful of very high earners would drag an average upward and mislead you. Here's exactly what each figure means.
Median (P50) — $81,485
Half of Research Scientists in Raleigh earn more than this and half earn less. It's the most honest "typical" salary — better than an average, which gets skewed by a few top earners.
25th percentile (P25) — $66,121
The lower end of the typical range: 75% of Research Scientists earn more than this. It's common for early-career roles or lower-cost employers. Earning below it is grounds to negotiate.
75th percentile (P75) — $100,420
Your negotiation target: only 25% of Research Scientists earn above it. Reaching P75 usually means seniority, in-demand specialisations, or simply negotiating from data. See how to negotiate.
90th percentile (P90) — $121,248
Top earners: only 10% of Research Scientists make this or more — typically senior, highly specialised, or at the best-paying employers.
Gross vs after-tax pay
These figures are gross (before tax). What actually reaches your account depends on your country, state, and deductions. Estimate your net with the take-home calculator.
National vs Raleigh pay
City figures apply the local market premium to BLS data, so Raleigh differs from the US average by +0%. A higher number isn't always better once cost of living is counted.
Hourly rate — $39/hr
The hourly figure is the annual median divided by 2,080 (40 hours × 52 weeks). If you regularly work more than 40 hours, your real hourly rate is lower than this. Convert any salary with the salary calculator.
Why this differs from Glassdoor or Payscale
Those sites publish what people say they earn (self-reports), which skew high because higher earners report more often. Our figures come from mandatory employer payroll records (BLS OEWS), so they reflect the whole market — not just a vocal subset.
How current and reliable is this number?
This page carries a confidence score of 97/100, based on the data source and coverage. US figures track the latest BLS release and refresh automatically; international figures use OECD/ILO data. See the changelog for live data freshness.
What counts as a "good" Research Scientist salary in Raleigh?
Around the median ($81,485) is solid and $100,420+ is strong — but "good" really depends on local costs. Check what the number is actually worth with the good-salary breakdown for Raleigh.
Still curious how we get these numbers? Every figure is traceable to a primary source — see the full methodology and data sources.
Research Scientist salary in Raleigh, NC: median $81,485 (P75 $100,420), per BLS OEWS via Official Salary, 2026.
Free JSON: /api/salary?job=research-scientist&city=raleigh — no key. API & widgets →
Key insights for Research Scientists in Raleigh
- ›After a simplified take-home estimate, $81K nets about $64K/yr — roughly $30K/yr left after typical single-person living costs here.
- ›Pay climbs with seniority: a senior/staff Research Scientist reaches about $110K — a +35% step from mid-level.
Research Scientists in Raleigh typically earn $66K–$100K a year.
The market median is $81K — half earn above, half earn below.
Top earners (top 10%) make $121K or more.
Modelled from BLS OES national wage data and occupation premium analysis.
Research Scientist Salary Analysis — Raleigh
Research Scientists in Raleigh earn a median salary of $81K, which is 0% above the national median of $81K. Raleigh's established technology sector sustains above-average demand for this role, supporting premium compensation.
Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) and employer payroll records. Figures represent the median (P50) across all experience levels in Raleigh.
Cost of Living Adjustment
Raleigh's cost of living is at the US average. Your $81K salary has the equivalent purchasing power of approximately $81K in a city with average US living costs.
Salary Distribution — Raleigh
5-band distribution from employer payroll records
New graduates, 0–1 yr exp
1–3 years experience
3–7 years, typical professional
Senior / high-performer — target
Staff / principal / lead
Are You Being Underpaid?
Enter your current salary to see your exact market percentile in Raleigh
Am I Underpaid?
Enter your current salary to see where you stand
Your salary is never stored or transmitted. Calculation runs locally in your browser.
Official Salary Fair Pay Score™
Is $81K a good salary for Research Scientist in Raleigh?
Benchmarked against the official BLS wage distribution for Research Scientists in Raleigh
Half of Research Scientists in Raleigh earn more, half earn less. Enter your own salary in the checker above to see your exact percentile against this distribution.
Why This Salary?
How we arrived at $81K for Research Scientists in Raleigh
Source: BLS OES. All figures reflect 2026 market conditions.
Research Scientist Salary by Experience Level in Raleigh
How compensation grows from entry-level through staff / lead
| Experience Level | Years | Percentile | Annual Salary | Monthly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | 0 | 0 yrs | $52,965 | $4,414 | $25 |
| Junior | 2 | 2 yrs | $66,818 | $5,568 | $32 |
| Mid-LevelTypical | 4 | 4 yrs | $76,596 | $6,383 | $37 |
| Senior | 6 | 6 yrs | $87,189 | $7,266 | $42 |
| Staff | 10 | 10 yrs | $110,005 | $9,167 | $53 |
| Principal | 14 | 14 yrs | $127,606 | $10,634 | $61 |
| Distinguished | 18 | 18 yrs | $132,006 | $11,001 | $63 |
Based on BLS OEWS percentile distribution. Actual salary depends on employer, skills, and negotiation.
Skills That Earn More — Research Scientist
Estimated premium above the Raleigh median based on market demand
Estimates based on job-posting salary premiums for verified high-demand skills.
Research Scientist Intelligence Report
Career metrics and full compensation breakdown — from BLS demand data
Career Opportunity Score
Composite: demand growth × 1.4 + (100 − AI risk) × 0.4
Total Compensation — Research Scientist
Beyond base salary: bonus, equity, and benefits
Bonus, equity, and benefits are modelled estimates from category norms (not scraped from any single employer); base is BLS. Actual total comp varies by employer, level, and negotiation.
Typical Benefits for Research Scientists
— show
Often adds 20–35% to your effective pay
Compare Research Scientist Salaries by City
How Raleigh, NC stacks up against other major markets
| City | Median | P75 | vs US avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NC (current) | $81,485 | $100,420+ | +0% |
| New York, NY | $79,460 | $133,140+ | -2% |
| San Francisco, CA | $116,069 | $143,040+ | +42% |
| Seattle, WA | $116,232 | $143,241+ | +43% |
| Austin, TX | $97,190 | $132,040+ | +19% |
| Boston, MA | $108,434 | $133,631+ | +33% |
| Chicago, IL | $82,230 | $105,100+ | +1% |
| Los Angeles, CA | $91,732 | $113,048+ | +13% |
| Denver, CO | $98,842 | $121,810+ | +21% |
Official Salary Career GPS™
What should I do next as a Research Scientist?
Career path data not available for this occupation.
Other Science Jobs in Raleigh
Same industry, same city
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Research Scientist salary in Raleigh, NC?
The estimated median Research Scientist salary in Raleigh, NC is $81K per year (2026). This is a modeled estimate derived from national wage data adjusted for local cost levels, not a published government figure for this area.
What is a good Research Scientist salary in Raleigh, NC?
The 75th percentile ($100K/yr) is the professional benchmark — what the top quarter already earns. It's a documented, negotiable target backed by BLS payroll data. Anything above the median ($81K) is above-average for this role in Raleigh, NC.
How much does a Research Scientist earn per hour in Raleigh, NC?
Based on the median annual salary of $81K, a Research Scientist in Raleigh, NC earns approximately $39/hr (2,080-hour work year). The P75 rate is ~$48/hr.
Is Raleigh, NC a good market for Research Scientists?
Raleigh, NC pays 0% above the US national average for this role. BLS projects 8% employment growth for Research Scientists over 2022–2032, and AI automation risk is rated low for this occupation.
How do I negotiate a higher Research Scientist salary in Raleigh, NC?
Cite the BLS P75 figure ($100K) — it is verifiable public data from government payroll records. Request the full compensation package: base + equity/bonus + benefits. Timing matters: negotiate at the offer stage, not after acceptance. Counter with a specific number, not a range.
What is the entry-level Research Scientist salary in Raleigh, NC?
Entry-level Research Scientists in Raleigh, NC (10th–25th percentile) earn roughly $55K–$66K per year, rising toward the $81K median with experience and in-demand skills.
What does a senior Research Scientist earn in Raleigh, NC?
Senior Research Scientists in Raleigh, NC — the top quartile up to the 90th percentile — earn about $100K–$121K per year, with the top 10% making $121K+.
How Is This Salary Calculated?
Every number is derived from a transparent, reproducible methodology — no estimates, no black boxes.
Where does the salary data come from?
US metro figures are published estimates from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, which covers roughly 1.1 million employer establishments. Where BLS does not publish a figure for an occupation and area, this site shows a modeled estimate and labels it as one.
How is the Raleigh figure calculated?
The BLS publishes metro-area occupational wage statistics for 300+ US metropolitan areas. For Raleigh, Official Salary uses the BLS metro premium ratio (metro median ÷ national median) and applies it to the national baseline.
What do P10, P25, P50, P75, and P90 mean?
These are salary percentiles from employer payroll records. P50 (median) means 50% of workers earn less. P75 means 75% earn less — this is the recommended negotiation anchor. P10 and P90 represent the bottom 10% and top 10% respectively.
How is take-home pay estimated?
Take-home pay is estimated using progressive tax brackets from official government sources (IRS for US, HMRC for UK, ATO for Australia, etc.). Social contributions (National Insurance, FICA, etc.) are added. These are estimates — actual take-home depends on deductions, filing status, and location.
How often is data updated?
US BLS salary data refreshes every 24 hours via the BLS public API. OECD international wages refresh monthly. ECB currency rates refresh every 4 hours.
Full formulas and source citations on the methodology page.
What a Research Scientist salary really means in Raleigh
Take-home pay, rent affordability, and remote benchmarking — on the $81,485 median.
Estimated take-home
≈ $5,457/month net
- Gross median
- $81,485
- Income tax
- −$9,768
- Social / FICA
- −$6,234
- Effective rate
- 20%
Federal income tax only (FICA included). State income tax varies. Single-filer estimate — not tax advice.
Rent affordability
of take-home on a typical 1-bed (~$1,176/mo)
The 30% rule says housing should stay under 30% of take-home. Here it's comfortably within that line. After all living costs (~$2,800/mo), roughly $2,657/mo is left to save or invest.
Cost-of-living estimate for Raleigh; rent ≈ 42% of budget.
Remote vs onsite
typical fully-remote benchmark range
Onsite Research Scientists in Raleigh earn the local median of $81,485. Fully-remote roles are usually benchmarked between the US median ($81,490) and the local rate — employers increasingly set remote pay by national or regional bands, not your city.
Compare all Research Scientist markets →How to reach the top 25% as a Research Scientist in Raleigh
The gap between a typical Research Scientist and the top quartile in Raleigh is $18,935/year — about $1,578/month more than the median. Reaching the 75th percentile ($100,420) usually comes down to seniority, in-demand specialisations, and negotiating from real data instead of hoping for a raise.
Research Scientist Salary Trend (2019–2024)
BLS OES historical national medians
Source: BLS OEWS 2019–2024. City-level data uses national trend × metro premium.
Education Premium — Research Scientist
How degree level affects salary · ACS Census data
Source: US Census Bureau ACS PUMS · BLS OES wage data.
Negotiation Deep-Dive
Get your data-backed negotiation opening ask and walking-away floor.
Negotiation Calculator
Enter your current salary to see your market position and opening ask
Research Scientist in Other Cities
Top Science Jobs in Raleigh
Data Source & Attribution
This page’s figures are a modeled estimate: a national occupation wage adjusted for local cost levels. BLS does not publish a figure for this occupation and area, so these numbers are not a government measurement and should not be cited as one. International figures draw on OECD Average Wages, Eurostat SES, and ILO ILOSTAT.