BLS metro-level wage data places Computer and Information Research Scientists pay in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC at a median of $136,990 per year ($65.86/hr/hour), drawn from the OEWS May 2025 release for this Metropolitan Statistical Area. Compared to the national median of $140,300, Durham-Chapel Hill pays 2% below, which typically tracks with a lower local cost of living or smaller specialized-employer cluster. Approximately 90 computer and information research scientistss are employed across the Durham-Chapel Hill MSA in SOC 15-1221.

The Durham-Chapel Hill pay distribution spans from $77,630 at the 10th percentile to $231,160 at the 90th — a 3.0× spread that reflects experience tenure, specialization, employer size, and the difference between public-sector, nonprofit, and private-sector compensation inside the metro. The 25th percentile sits at $105,450 and the 75th at $189,080, so half of Durham-Chapel Hill-based computer and information research scientistss earn within that middle band.

Metro figures capture where you actually work, not just where you live — which matters for commuters. BLS draws metro boundaries from the OMB MSA definitions, so Durham-Chapel Hill, NC covers the central city plus outlying counties tied to the metro economically. Remember that OEWS wages reflect base pay only: employer-provided health insurance, retirement matches, stock options, signing bonuses, overtime, and tips are excluded and can add 20-40% to real total compensation. Before using this metro median as a negotiation anchor, triangulate against the same occupation's national profile (linked below), its state-wide NC data, and peer-metro comparisons — a median is a starting point, not a ceiling.