Chemists Salary
Chemists in Colorado make a median of $101,980 a year, or about $49.03 an hour. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $163K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.71), that's roughly $98,332 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,832/month, or 27.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Colorado. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $102K actually covers in Colorado, month by month
About chemists
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What this looks like in Colorado
Colorado sits well above the national pay line for chemists, local pay runs about 12% higher than the U.S. median of $91K. Rent runs $1,832/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 103.71) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado
Entry-level chemists (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $102K. Top earners bring in $163K or more, a $101K spread from bottom to top.
Chemists salary by metro in Colorado
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $106K | +4% | 500 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $102K | +0% | 820 |
| Greeley | $87K | -14% | 80 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $83K | -18% | 200 |
| Colorado Springs | $82K | -20% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track chemists salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Colorado 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 Colorado?
Yes — at the median salary of $102K, rent takes 29.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,832/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for chemists in Colorado?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chemists typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,047/month. At HUD’s $1,832/month FMR, rent would take 45% 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 Colorado?
Local pay is 12% above the national median — $102K here vs. $91K nationally.
How does Colorado compare to the national average for chemists?
Colorado pays $102K median vs. the U.S. average of $91K — that’s +12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.71), the purchasing-power equivalent is $98K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do chemists make in Colorado?
The median is $101,980 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,260, and experienced chemists can clear $162,680. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $102K enough to live in Colorado?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,303/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,832/month, which eats 29.1% 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 Colorado?
Colorado has a Regional Price Parity of 103.71 (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 $98,332 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.