Chemical Engineers Salary in St. Louis, MO-IL
Chemical Engineers in St. Louis, MO-IL make a median of $127,100 a year, or about $61.11 an hour. The range runs from $80K at the entry level to $190K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 95.09), that's roughly $133,663 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,218/month, or 15.8% of estimated take-home pay.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $127K get you in St. Louis?
About chemical engineers
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, St. Louis, MO-IL
Entry-level chemical engineers (10th percentile) start around $80K. Mid-career wages sit at $127K.Top earners bring in $190K or more - a $110K spread from bottom to top.
Chemical Engineers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | $161K | +32% | 190 |
| New Mexico | $147K | +21% | 80 |
| West Virginia | $140K | +15% | 210 |
| Texas | $135K | +11% | 2,780 |
| Virginia | $133K | +9% | 1,020 |
| New York | $132K | +9% | 560 |
| Delaware | $131K | +8% | 390 |
| Louisiana | $131K | +8% | 780 |
| Washington | $131K | +7% | 600 |
| Maryland | $130K | +6% | 560 |
| North Dakota | $128K | +5% | 60 |
| Arizona | $125K | +3% | 170 |
| Illinois | $120K | -1% | 490 |
| Massachusetts | $119K | -2% | 1,140 |
| New Jersey | $118K | -3% | 480 |
Track chemical engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when St. Louis numbers change.
Related careers in Engineering
Frequently asked questions
How much do chemical engineers make in St. Louis, MO-IL?
The median is $127,100 a year - that works out to about $61.11 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $79,740, and experienced chemical engineers can clear $189,600. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $127K enough to live in St. Louis?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,695/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,218/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 15.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a chemical engineers salary go in St. Louis?
St. Louis has a Regional Price Parity of 95.09 (100 is the national average). That's below average - your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median chemical engineers salary is worth about $133,663 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do chemical engineers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.