Chemists Salary
Chemists in Maine make a median of $64,440 a year, or about $30.98 an hour. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $100K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.7), that's roughly $65,957 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,281/month, about 30.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Maine. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $64K get you in Maine?
About chemists
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What this looks like in Maine
Pay for chemists in Maine runs about 29% below the U.S. median of $91K. Rent runs $1,281/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 97.7) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Maine
Entry-level chemists (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $64K. Top earners bring in $100K or more, a $50K spread from bottom to top.
Chemists salary by metro in Maine
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-South Portland | $64K | -0% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track chemists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Maine numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a chemist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Maine?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $64K, rent takes 30.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,281/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for chemists in Maine?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chemists typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,038/month. At HUD’s $1,281/month FMR, rent would take 42% 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 Maine?
Local pay runs 29% below the national median — $64K here vs. $91K nationally.
How does Maine compare to the national average for chemists?
Maine pays $64K median vs. the U.S. average of $91K — that’s -29%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $66K — below the national median.
How much do chemists make in Maine?
The median is $64,440 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,640, and experienced chemists can clear $100,360. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $64K enough to live in Maine?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,216/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,281/month, which eats 30.4% 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 Maine?
Maine has a Regional Price Parity of 97.7 (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 $65,957 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.