Chemists Salary
Chemists in Hawaii make a median of $84,150 a year, or about $40.46 an hour. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $126K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 110.17), so that salary is closer to $76,382 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,240/month, about 42.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Hawaii. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $84K get you in Hawaii?
About chemists
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What this looks like in Hawaii
Chemists pay in Hawaii tracks closely to the national median, $84K locally vs. $91K nationwide, a 8% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,240/month, which is 43.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 10% above the national average (BEA RPP 110.17), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Hawaii
Entry-level chemists (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $84K. Top earners bring in $126K or more, a $63K spread from bottom to top.
Chemists salary by metro in Hawaii
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Honolulu | $85K | +1% | 130 |
Compare to other states
Track chemists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Hawaii numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a chemist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Hawaii?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $84K, rent takes 43.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,240/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for chemists in Hawaii?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chemists typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,785/month. At HUD’s $2,240/month FMR, rent would take 59% 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 Hawaii?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $84K locally vs. $91K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Hawaii compare to the national average for chemists?
Hawaii pays $84K median vs. the U.S. average of $91K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 110.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $76K — below the national median.
How much do chemists make in Hawaii?
The median is $84,150 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,080, and experienced chemists can clear $126,070. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $84K enough to live in Hawaii?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,131/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,240/month, which eats 43.7% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a chemists salary go in Hawaii?
Hawaii has a Regional Price Parity of 110.17 (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 $76,382 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.