Chemists Salary
Chemists in Michigan make a median of $97,440 a year, or about $46.85 an hour. The range runs from $56K at the entry level to $164K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.89), which stretches that salary to about $103,781 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,272/month, or 20.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Michigan. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $97K actually covers in Michigan, month by month
About chemists
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What this looks like in Michigan
Chemists pay in Michigan tracks closely to the national median, $97K locally vs. $91K nationwide, a 7% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,272/month, 21% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Michigan
Entry-level chemists (10th percentile) start around $56K. Mid-career wages sit at $97K. Top earners bring in $164K or more, a $108K spread from bottom to top.
Chemists salary by metro in Michigan
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bay City | $132K | +36% | 250 |
| Midland | $106K | +8% | 240 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage | $105K | +8% | 230 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores | $92K | -5% | 70 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | $86K | -12% | 1,250 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood | $82K | -16% | 290 |
| Ann Arbor | $67K | -31% | 230 |
| Lansing-East Lansing | $64K | -35% | 140 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Michigan numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a chemist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Michigan?
Yes — at the median salary of $97K, rent takes 21% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,272/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for chemists in Michigan?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chemists typically earn — is $56K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,738/month. At HUD’s $1,272/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 Michigan?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $97K locally vs. $91K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Michigan compare to the national average for chemists?
Michigan pays $97K median vs. the U.S. average of $91K — that’s +7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $104K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do chemists make in Michigan?
The median is $97,440 a year, that works out to about $47 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $56,260, and experienced chemists can clear $164,200. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $97K enough to live in Michigan?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,066/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,272/month, which eats 21% 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 Michigan?
Michigan has a Regional Price Parity of 93.89 (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 $103,781 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.