Philosophy Degree in Durham, NC — Salary & ROI 2026
Philosophy degree analysis for Durham, NC. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$48K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$76K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
8.4 yrs
in Durham
Cost of Living
109
index (100 = avg)
Philosophy in Durham, NC Overview
Durham is one of North Carolina's top college towns, with 25 institutions and a student population of 56,021. Public tuition averages $6,477/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. Although national enrollment in Philosophy has been declining, graduates with skills in Logic and Ethics remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Durham is approximately $47,960, growing to $76,300 by mid-career.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
25
Public Tuition
$6,477/yr
Private Tuition
$62,688/yr
Room & Board
$14,101/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,850/yr
Unemployment
5.9%
Graduation Rate
54%
Philosophy Salary in Durham (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Durham's cost of living index of 109 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Philosophy salary: $44,000 starting, $70,000 mid-career, $90,000 senior level.Durham adjustment factor: 1.09x based on the local cost of living index.
Philosophy ROI Calculator for Durham
Estimate your return on investment for a Philosophy degree using local Durham tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $6,477 | Private avg: $62,688
Durham avg aid: $13,850/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$82,312
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$9,810
vs HS diploma in Durham
ROI Payback Period
8.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Durham
$244,688
Lifetime earnings premium ($327,000) minus total education cost ($82,312)
Student Loan Payoff for Philosophy in Durham
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Durham for Philosophy
Duke University
private
$62,688/yr
$250,752 total
North Carolina Central University
public
$6,477/yr
$25,908 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Durham Technical Community College
$2,864/yr
Top Employers for Philosophy in Durham
Durham offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Philosophy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Durham Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Philosophy Job Titles
Philosophy in Nearby North Carolina Cities
Charlotte, NC
$39K starting · COL 89
39 colleges
Raleigh, NC
$37K starting · COL 83
21 colleges
Greensboro, NC
$40K starting · COL 91
17 colleges
Winston-Salem, NC
$47K starting · COL 106
26 colleges
Fayetteville, NC
$40K starting · COL 90
15 colleges
Cary, NC
$48K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
Wilmington, NC
$42K starting · COL 95
5 colleges
High Point, NC
$37K starting · COL 84.5
5 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Durham
Chinese Studies
$60K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$55K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$55K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$46K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$48K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$55K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$46K starting · 5 yr ROI
Art History
$55K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Philosophy Degree in Durham — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Philosophy ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Durham.