Atmospheric and Space Scientists pay range in Raleigh
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,220 a year or less, while the top 10% make $156,040 or more. The middle half of atmospheric and space scientists in Raleigh earn between $76,860 and $120,660.
- $62K10th
- $77K25th
- $109KMedian
- $121K75th
- $156K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $106,060 | $8,838 | $50.99 |
| Median | $108,810 | $9,068 | $52.31 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $76,860 | $6,405 | $36.95 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $120,660 | $10,055 | $58.01 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Atmospheric and Space Scientists pay in Raleigh vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Atmospheric and space scientists in Raleigh earn 14% more than the North Carolina average ($93,080) and about the same as the U.S. average ($106,110). At the median the gap is +10% against the U.S. median of $99,070.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh | $106,060 | $108,810 | $62,220 | $156,040 | 40 |
| North Carolina | $93,080 | $91,560 | $49,940 | $136,990 | 170 |
| United States | $106,110 | $99,070 | $53,060 | $161,890 | 10,000 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Atmospheric and Space Scientists salary after taxes in Raleigh
On the average salary of $106,060, a single filer in Raleigh takes home about $79,720 a year, or $6,643 a month and $3,066 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 Raleigh a good place for atmospheric and space scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Raleigh area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.2), so the average $106,060 buys what about $108,051 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Raleigh ($51,990). A typical home costs $438,364, or 4.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Atmospheric and Space Scientists salary in nearby metro areas
- Richmond, VA$119,260
- Virginia Beach, VA$115,700
- Charleston, SC$95,380
- Washington, DC$127,450
- Baltimore, MD$124,880
- Philadelphia, PA$100,270
Highest-paying cities for atmospheric and space scientists
Chicago, IL pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($182,890).
- Chicago, IL$182,890
- New York, NY$172,010
- San Francisco, CA$164,020
- Albany, NY$130,860
- Indianapolis, IN$130,690
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Atmospheric and Space Scientists salary in Raleigh: questions
How much do atmospheric and space scientists make an hour in Raleigh?
$50.99 an hour on average, and $52.31 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level atmospheric and space scientists salary in Raleigh?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,220 a year and the 25th percentile is $76,860, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the atmospheric and space scientists take-home pay in Raleigh?
About $79,720 a year ($6,643 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $106,060.
Do atmospheric and space scientists earn more in Raleigh than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($106,110).
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 19-2021; area Raleigh-Cary, NC (39580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.7%.
- 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 0.78, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.78).
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