Chemical Technicians Salary
Chemical Technicians in West Virginia make a median of $58,750 a year, or about $28.24 an hour. The range runs from $41K at the entry level to $82K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.03), which stretches that salary to about $65,989 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,008/month, or 26.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across West Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $59K get you in West Virginia?
About chemical technicians
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in West Virginia
Chemical technicians pay in West Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $59K locally vs. $60K nationwide, a 3% difference. Rent runs $1,008/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.03 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, West Virginia
Entry-level chemical technicians (10th percentile) start around $41K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $82K or more, a $41K spread from bottom to top.
Chemical Technicians salary by metro in West Virginia
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington-Ashland | $55K | -6% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track chemical technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when West Virginia numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
Can a chemical technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in West Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 25.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,008/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for chemical technicians in West Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chemical technicians typically earn — is $41K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,434/month. At HUD’s $1,008/month FMR, rent would take 41% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is chemical technician a high-paying job in West Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $59K locally vs. $60K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does West Virginia compare to the national average for chemical technicians?
West Virginia pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.03), the purchasing-power equivalent is $66K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do chemical technicians make in West Virginia?
The median is $58,750 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,570, and experienced chemical technicians can clear $81,810. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in West Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,927/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,008/month, which eats 25.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a chemical technicians salary go in West Virginia?
West Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 89.03 (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 technicians salary is worth about $65,989 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do chemical technicians 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.