Chemists Salary
Chemists in Ohio make a median of $85,270 a year, or about $41 an hour. The range runs from $59K at the entry level to $135K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.45), which stretches that salary to about $93,242 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,188/month, or 22% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Ohio. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $85K get you in Ohio?
About chemists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Ohio
Chemists pay in Ohio tracks closely to the national median, $85K locally vs. $91K nationwide, a 7% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,188/month, 21.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.45 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% 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, Ohio
Entry-level chemists (10th percentile) start around $59K. Mid-career wages sit at $85K. Top earners bring in $135K or more, a $76K spread from bottom to top.
Chemists salary by metro in Ohio
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek | $105K | +23% | 230 |
| Cincinnati | $96K | +13% | 930 |
| Columbus | $94K | +10% | 1,170 |
| Cleveland | $82K | -4% | 680 |
| Akron | $79K | -7% | 200 |
| Toledo | $78K | -8% | 150 |
| Canton-Massillon | $77K | -10% | 50 |
| Lima | $73K | -15% | 100 |
| Youngstown-Warren | $65K | -24% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track chemists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ohio numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
Can a chemist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ohio?
Yes — at the median salary of $85K, rent takes 21.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,188/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for chemists in Ohio?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chemists typically earn — is $59K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,541/month. At HUD’s $1,188/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 Ohio?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $85K locally vs. $91K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Ohio compare to the national average for chemists?
Ohio pays $85K median vs. the U.S. average of $91K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.45), the purchasing-power equivalent is $93K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do chemists make in Ohio?
The median is $85,270 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $59,010, and experienced chemists can clear $134,820. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $85K enough to live in Ohio?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,560/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,188/month, which eats 21.4% 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 Ohio?
Ohio has a Regional Price Parity of 91.45 (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 $93,242 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.