Chemists Salary
Chemists in Alaska make a median of $106,010 a year, or about $50.96 an hour. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $141K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 104.31), that's roughly $101,630 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,643/month, or 23.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Alaska. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $106K actually covers in Alaska, month by month
About chemists
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What this looks like in Alaska
Alaska sits well above the national pay line for chemists, local pay runs about 16% higher than the U.S. median of $91K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,643/month, 23.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 104.31) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Alaska offers a genuinely strong financial position for chemists at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alaska
Entry-level chemists (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $106K. Top earners bring in $141K or more, a $79K spread from bottom to top.
Chemists salary by metro in Alaska
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $106K | -0% | 40 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Alaska numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a chemist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alaska?
Yes — at the median salary of $106K, rent takes 23.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,643/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for chemists in Alaska?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chemists typically earn — is $62K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,311/month. At HUD’s $1,643/month FMR, rent would take 38% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is chemist a high-paying job in Alaska?
Local pay is 16% above the national median — $106K here vs. $91K nationally.
How does Alaska compare to the national average for chemists?
Alaska pays $106K median vs. the U.S. average of $91K — that’s +16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 104.31), the purchasing-power equivalent is $102K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do chemists make in Alaska?
The median is $106,010 a year, that works out to about $51 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,840, and experienced chemists can clear $140,800. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $106K enough to live in Alaska?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,914/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,643/month, which eats 23.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a chemists salary go in Alaska?
Alaska has a Regional Price Parity of 104.31 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median chemists salary is worth about $101,630 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do chemists 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.