Chemists Salary
Chemists in Lima, OH make a median of $72,570 a year, or about $34.89 an hour. The range runs from $56K at the entry level to $128K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.67), which stretches that salary to about $80,930 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,108/month, or 23.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $73K get you in Lima?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lima’s Regional Price Parity (89.67). 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 Lima
Pay for chemists in Lima runs about 20% below the U.S. median of $91K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,108/month, 22.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.67 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Lima can be a reasonable trade-off for chemistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for chemists in metros near Lima, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Columbus | $94K | $99K |
| Cincinnati | $96K | $101K |
| Cleveland | $82K | $87K |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek | $105K | $113K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lima, OH
Entry-level chemists (10th percentile) start around $56K. Mid-career wages sit at $73K. Top earners bring in $128K or more, a $72K 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 Lima numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
Can a chemist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Lima?
Yes — at the median salary of $73K, rent takes 22.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,108/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for chemists in Lima?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chemists typically earn — is $56K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,359/month. At HUD’s $1,108/month FMR, rent would take 33% 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 Lima?
Local pay runs 20% below the national median — $73K here vs. $91K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Lima compare to the national average for chemists?
Lima pays $73K median vs. the U.S. average of $91K — that’s -20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.67), the purchasing-power equivalent is $81K — below the national median.
How much do chemists make in Lima, OH?
The median is $72,570 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $55,980, and experienced chemists can clear $127,930. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $73K enough to live in Lima?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,845/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,108/month, which eats 22.9% 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 Lima?
Lima has a Regional Price Parity of 89.67 (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 $80,930 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.