Chemists Salary
Chemists in Idaho make a median of $78,000 a year, or about $37.5 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $135K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.88), which stretches that salary to about $83,085 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,136/month, or 22.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Idaho. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $78K get you in Idaho?
About chemists
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What this looks like in Idaho
Pay for chemists in Idaho runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $91K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,136/month, 22.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.88 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Idaho can be a reasonable trade-off for chemistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Idaho
Entry-level chemists (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $78K. Top earners bring in $135K or more, a $98K spread from bottom to top.
Chemists salary by metro in Idaho
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho Falls | $86K | +10% | 130 |
| Boise City | $79K | +1% | 110 |
Compare to other states
Track chemists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Idaho numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a chemist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Idaho?
Yes — at the median salary of $78K, rent takes 22.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,136/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for chemists in Idaho?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chemists typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,234/month. At HUD’s $1,136/month FMR, rent would take 51% 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 Idaho?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $78K here vs. $91K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Idaho compare to the national average for chemists?
Idaho pays $78K median vs. the U.S. average of $91K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $83K — below the national median.
How much do chemists make in Idaho?
The median is $78,000 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,230, and experienced chemists can clear $134,850. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $78K enough to live in Idaho?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,983/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,136/month, which eats 22.8% 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 Idaho?
Idaho has a Regional Price Parity of 93.88 (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 $83,085 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.