Chemists Salary
Chemists in Arkansas make a median of $75,570 a year, or about $36.33 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $132K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $86,228 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,021/month, or 20.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arkansas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $76K get you in Arkansas?
About chemists
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What this looks like in Arkansas
Pay for chemists in Arkansas runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $91K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,021/month, 20.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Arkansas can be a reasonable trade-off for chemistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arkansas
Entry-level chemists (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $76K. Top earners bring in $132K or more, a $85K spread from bottom to top.
Chemists salary by metro in Arkansas
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $58K | -23% | 120 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arkansas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a chemist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
Yes — at the median salary of $76K, rent takes 20.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,021/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for chemists in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chemists typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,796/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 37% 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 Arkansas?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $76K here vs. $91K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Arkansas compare to the national average for chemists?
Arkansas pays $76K median vs. the U.S. average of $91K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $86K — below the national median.
How much do chemists make in Arkansas?
The median is $75,570 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,600, and experienced chemists can clear $131,620. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $76K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,898/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 20.8% 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 Arkansas?
Arkansas has a Regional Price Parity of 87.64 (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 chemists salary is worth about $86,228 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.