Chemists Salary
Chemists in Louisiana make a median of $103,890 a year, or about $49.95 an hour. The range runs from $58K at the entry level to $168K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.28), which stretches that salary to about $119,031 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,191/month, or 18.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Louisiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $104K get you in Louisiana?
About chemists
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What this looks like in Louisiana
Louisiana sits well above the national pay line for chemists, local pay runs about 14% higher than the U.S. median of $91K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,191/month, 18.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.28 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Louisiana offers a genuinely strong financial position for chemistss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Louisiana
Entry-level chemists (10th percentile) start around $58K. Mid-career wages sit at $104K. Top earners bring in $168K or more, a $110K spread from bottom to top.
Chemists salary by metro in Louisiana
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles | $128K | +24% | 180 |
| Baton Rouge | $108K | +4% | 270 |
| New Orleans-Metairie | $96K | -7% | 170 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City | $80K | -23% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track chemists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Louisiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a chemist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Louisiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $104K, rent takes 18.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,191/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for chemists in Louisiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chemists typically earn — is $58K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,499/month. At HUD’s $1,191/month FMR, rent would take 34% 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 Louisiana?
Local pay is 14% above the national median — $104K here vs. $91K nationally.
How does Louisiana compare to the national average for chemists?
Louisiana pays $104K median vs. the U.S. average of $91K — that’s +14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.28), the purchasing-power equivalent is $119K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do chemists make in Louisiana?
The median is $103,890 a year, that works out to about $50 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,310, and experienced chemists can clear $168,460. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $104K enough to live in Louisiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,470/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,191/month, which eats 18.4% 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 Louisiana?
Louisiana has a Regional Price Parity of 87.28 (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 $119,031 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.