SOC 11-9121

Natural Sciences Managers Salary in Raleigh-Cary, NC (2026)

Data updated · Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025, HUD FY 2027 Fair Market Rents, EPI 2026 Family Budget, 2026 tax tables · Methodology

Tax Tables: 2026 Fed + NC
COL Index: 136.24 (+36.2% vs US)
Net Compensation Yield 66.8% Realized
$115,949 / net annual direct deposit
Gross Adjusted $173,510 $83.42/hr
Effective Tax Drag 27.17% Combined Jurisdictions
Marginal Top Bracket 24% Federal Statutory
Total Withheld -$47,150 $1,813.47/check
Category 1 of 6

Wage Benchmarking & After-Tax Paycheck Engine

Dynamic statutory tax calculations based on IRS Publication 15-T and state statutory schedules.

$
2,080 annual statutory base hours $83.42 / hour
0 hrs/wk (+$0/yr)
0 hrs (Standard) 10 hrs OT 20 hrs OT 25 hrs Max
6% (-$10,411/yr)
0% Tax Shield: ~$2,499/yr 15% (IRS limit: $24,500)
Itemized Statutory Withholdings Ledger
Federal Income Tax (IRS)
Progressive 10%–37%
-$27,878
Social Security (FICA OASDI)
Statutory 6.20% (Cap $184,500)
-$10,758
Medicare Hospital Insurance
Statutory 1.45%
-$2,516
North Carolina Individual Income Tax
State Marginal Bracket
-$5,999
Net Take-Home Annual Realized
$115,949 ($4,459.58 / check)
Category 2 of 6

Raleigh-Cary, NC Natural Sciences Managers Wage Distribution

Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Percentiles & Career Ladders

Your Salary: $173,510
MIDDLE 50% (IQR RANGE) 10th $103k 25th $136k Median: $173,510 50th (Median) $174k 75th $215k 90th $301k You: $173,510
10th (Entry) $103,090 $49.56/hr
25th (Junior) $135,770 $65.27/hr
50th (Median) $173,510 $83.42/hr
75th (Senior) $215,220 $103.47/hr
90th (Lead/Master) $300,550 $144.50/hr
Career Progression & Licensing Milestones for Natural Sciences Managers in Raleigh-Cary, NC
1
Research ScientistBachelor's degree (most common O*NET requirement); entry into the field
$82,698$39.76/hr · 2-5 Years
2
Senior ScientistDemonstrated results in role; works independently on core responsibilities
$123,891$59.56/hr · 5-9 Years
3
Natural Sciences ManagerFull professional competence; leads projects or a small team
$173,489$83.41/hr · 9-14 Years
4
Director of ResearchOwns budget, hiring and outcomes for a department or large program
$229,832$110.50/hr · 14-20 Years
5
VP of R&D / Chief ScientistExecutive or principal scope; sets strategy across the organization or profession
$328,716$158.04/hr · 20+ Years
Adjacent Career Pivots & National Pay Differences
Project Management Specialists-$64,900/yr
National median: $102,320
Skill overlap: 77%View Salary
Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers-$57,850/yr
National median: $109,370
Skill overlap: 77%
Biological Technicians-$109,710/yr
National median: $57,510
Skill overlap: 63%
Data Scientists-$46,990/yr
National median: $120,230
Skill overlap: 62%
Category 3 of 6

HUD Fair Market Rent & EPI Living Wage Affordability Index

Evaluating housing affordability vs. net take-home pay in Raleigh-Cary, NC under the HUD 30% housing cost guideline.

Rent-to-Take-Home Ratio (HUD 30% Standard)
16% of Net Income
✓ Passes 30% Housing Affordability Standard
HUD Fair Market Rent (1-Bedroom) $1,552/month Requires minimum annual gross of $62,080
HUD Fair Market Rent (2-Bedroom) $1,689/month Requires minimum annual gross of $67,560
Hourly Living Wage Benchmark (EPI model)
1 Adult Earner: $30.13/hr
Per adult, 2 working adults + 1 child: $24.42/hr
Category 4 of 6

Hourly Wage to Annual & Overtime Matrix

Translating base hourly pay and 1.5× overtime into net take-home pay based on 2,080 annual work hours in Raleigh-Cary, NC.

Swipe horizontally to inspect full pay schedule
Schedule Total Hours/Wk Gross Annual Est. Taxes Net Take-Home Bi-Weekly Check
Standard (40 hrs)40 hrs$173,510-$47,150$115,949$4,459.58
+5h Overtime/Wk45 hrs$206,043-$56,917$136,763$5,260.12
+10h Overtime/Wk50 hrs$238,576-$66,753$157,509$6,058.04
+15h Overtime/Wk55 hrs$271,109-$78,523$176,320$6,781.52
+20h Overtime/Wk60 hrs$303,643-$90,687$194,737$7,489.89
Category 5 of 6

Interstate MSA Relocation & State Tax Migration Comparator

Calculate required compensation, cost-of-living differences, and annual state/local tax savings between two metropolitan areas.

Equivalent Salary in Austin, TX $83,505 Cost of Living Ratio: 69.6%
Annual State & Local Tax Delta +$8,331/yr Tax savings in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX
Annual Rent Difference (1BR) -$17,676/yr Based on HUD Fair Market Rents
Net Discretionary Cash Flow Impact

Combining state tax savings and annual rent variance when relocating from San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA to Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX.

+$26,007/year
Category 6 of 6 · Executive Economic Briefing
2026 Fiscal Intelligence

Natural Sciences Managers in Raleigh-Cary, NC: Compensation & Purchasing Power Briefing (2026)

Estimates compiled from BLS OEWS wages, IRS 2026 withholding rules, HUD Fair Market Rents, and North Carolina tax codes.

Market Baseline
$173,510/yr
$83.42/hr · SOC 11-9121
Statutory Tax Drag
27.17% Effective
-$47,150 in Total Taxes
HUD 1BR Shelter Ratio
16% Net Pay
✓ Passes 30% HUD Rule
Monthly Discretionary
+$8,110/mo
Post-$1,552/mo 1BR Rent

Key Economic & Compensation Takeaways

Statutory Withholding Architecture

Frequently Asked Questions

Verified Government Data Sources & Statutory Attribution

Wages sourced from US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS OEWS). Rents calibrated to HUD Fair Market Rents. Tax schedules calibrated to IRS IRC Title 26, IRS Pub 15-T, and state statutory revenue codes.

BLS OEWS May 2025 HUD FY2027 FMR IRS 15-T
Metro Pay Comparison SOC 11-9121
2026 Statutory Thresholds
  • Federal Standard Deduction (Single) $16,100
  • FICA OASDI Wage Base Cap $184,500
  • Pre-Tax 401(k) Elective Deferral $24,500
  • HSA Individual Annual Limit $4,400

Natural Sciences Managers in Raleigh-Cary, NC: Market Snapshot

Natural Sciences Managers roles in Raleigh-Cary, NC report a median annual wage of $173,510, 3.8% above the national median of $167,220. The 10th to 90th percentile band runs from $103,090 to $300,550, and HUD’s $1,552 monthly one-bedroom fair market rent equals 10.7% of that median gross pay. The single-adult living wage benchmark for the area is $30.13 per hour.

Highest-paying metropolitan areas for Natural Sciences Managers

Metropolitan areaMedian annual wageVs this market
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$291,000+67.7%
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$263,810+52.0%
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$225,230+29.8%
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR$220,120+26.9%
Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT$217,480+25.3%
Kennewick-Richland, WA$215,860+24.4%
Worcester, MA$212,600+22.5%
Midland, MI$212,130+22.3%
New Haven, CT$210,670+21.4%
Boulder, CO$210,340+21.2%

Top-paying occupations benchmarked in Raleigh-Cary, NC

OccupationMedian annual wageMedian hourly
Chief Executives$286,050$137.52/hr
Computer and Information Systems Managers$173,960$83.63/hr
Architectural and Engineering Managers$169,780$81.62/hr
Marketing Managers$167,640$80.60/hr
Sales Managers$163,520$78.62/hr
Financial Manager$163,130$78.43/hr
Human Resources Managers$144,190$69.32/hr
Cybersecurity Analyst$143,640$69.06/hr
Actuary$142,180$68.36/hr
Purchasing Managers$139,050$66.85/hr

Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2025, 210 metropolitan areas publishing this occupation; HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rents; EPI Family Budget Calculator. Taxes use 2026 federal and state rules. Data last updated .

Regional Labor Market & Career Mobility Network

Explore adjacent occupations and neighboring metropolitan wage benchmarks for peer compensation analysis.

Natural Sciences Managers Salary in Raleigh-Cary, NC (2026) Overview

Natural Sciences Managers median pay in Raleigh-Cary, NC is $173,510 a year ($83.42/hr). See take-home pay after 2026 taxes, BLS wage percentiles, HUD rents. Official 2026 economic data for Natural Sciences Managers in Raleigh-Cary, NC compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.

Quick answers
What is the median salary for a Natural Sciences Managers in Raleigh-Cary, NC?

The median annual wage is $173,510 ($83.42 per hour). The middle 80% of earners make between $103,090 and $300,550. Source: BLS OEWS (May 2025).

What is the take-home pay for a Natural Sciences Managers in Raleigh-Cary, NC after taxes?

On the median wage of $173,510, a single filer with no pre-tax deductions takes home about $123,446 a year ($10,287 a month) after $50,064 in federal, FICA, state and local taxes, an effective rate of 28.85%, using 2026 tax rules.