Chemists Salary
Chemists in Johnstown, PA make a median of $59,920 a year, or about $28.81 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $80K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 85.93), which stretches that salary to about $69,731 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,035/month, or 25.8% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $60K get you in Johnstown?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Johnstown’s Regional Price Parity (85.93). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About chemists
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What this looks like in Johnstown
Pay for chemists in Johnstown runs about 34% below the U.S. median of $91K. Rent runs $1,035/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 85.93 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 14% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for chemists in metros near Johnstown, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $95K | $93K |
| Pittsburgh | $74K | $78K |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $80K | $80K |
| York-Hanover | $94K | $98K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Johnstown, PA
Entry-level chemists (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $80K or more, a $31K spread from bottom to top.
Chemists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Chemists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $150K | +64% | 280 |
| Maryland | $141K | +54% | 2,480 |
| Delaware | $130K | +42% | 1,200 |
| New Mexico | $127K | +39% | 280 |
| Massachusetts | $125K | +37% | 3,430 |
| Alaska | $106K | +16% | 60 |
| Oregon | $105K | +15% | 730 |
| Louisiana | $104K | +14% | 740 |
| Wyoming | $102K | +12% | 80 |
| Colorado | $102K | +12% | 1,790 |
| Rhode Island | $102K | +11% | 150 |
| New Hampshire | $100K | +10% | 300 |
| Texas | $100K | +9% | 5,130 |
| Minnesota | $99K | +9% | 1,680 |
| Connecticut | $98K | +8% | 1,170 |
| California | $98K | +7% | 9,820 |
| Alabama | $98K | +7% | 700 |
| Michigan | $97K | +7% | 3,490 |
| Washington | $97K | +7% | 2,280 |
| North Dakota | $97K | +7% | 160 |
| Virginia | $97K | +6% | 1,640 |
| Georgia | $93K | +2% | 1,260 |
| New York | $91K | -1% | 4,230 |
| Tennessee | $88K | -4% | 960 |
| Vermont | $86K | -6% | 80 |
| Iowa | $86K | -6% | 570 |
| West Virginia | $86K | -6% | 180 |
| Ohio | $85K | -7% | 4,010 |
| Illinois | $85K | -7% | 3,040 |
| New Jersey | $84K | -7% | 5,280 |
| Hawaii | $84K | -8% | 140 |
| Kentucky | $84K | -8% | 530 |
| Kansas | $83K | -9% | 690 |
| Missouri | $83K | -9% | 1,640 |
| Florida | $83K | -9% | 1,490 |
| North Carolina | $83K | -9% | 4,530 |
| Arizona | $82K | -10% | 870 |
| Nevada | $81K | -11% | 280 |
| Utah | $81K | -11% | 910 |
| Mississippi | $80K | -12% | 200 |
| South Carolina | $80K | -13% | 770 |
| Indiana | $79K | -14% | 2,480 |
| Wisconsin | $79K | -14% | 1,920 |
| Idaho | $78K | -15% | 320 |
| Pennsylvania | $77K | -16% | 6,800 |
| Arkansas | $76K | -17% | 380 |
| Oklahoma | $75K | -18% | 630 |
| Nebraska | $75K | -18% | 350 |
| South Dakota | $67K | -26% | 170 |
| Maine | $64K | -29% | 140 |
| Montana | $62K | -32% | 300 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track chemists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Johnstown numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
Can a chemist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Johnstown?
Yes — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 25.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,035/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for chemists in Johnstown?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chemists typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,945/month. At HUD’s $1,035/month FMR, rent would take 35% 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 Johnstown?
Local pay runs 34% below the national median — $60K here vs. $91K nationally. Cost of living is 14% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Johnstown compare to the national average for chemists?
Johnstown pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $91K — that’s -34%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 85.93), the purchasing-power equivalent is $70K — below the national median.
How much do chemists make in Johnstown, PA?
The median is $59,920 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,090, and experienced chemists can clear $79,960. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in Johnstown?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,029/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,035/month, which eats 25.7% 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 Johnstown?
Johnstown has a Regional Price Parity of 85.93 (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 $69,731 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.