Chemists Salary
Chemists in Pennsylvania make a median of $77,090 a year, or about $37.06 an hour. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $145K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $81,173 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,351/month, or 26.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $77K get you in Pennsylvania?
About chemists
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Pay for chemists in Pennsylvania runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $91K. Rent runs $1,351/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% 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, Pennsylvania
Entry-level chemists (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $77K. Top earners bring in $145K or more, a $95K spread from bottom to top.
Chemists salary by metro in Pennsylvania
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| State College | $108K | +40% | 50 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $95K | +24% | 4,520 |
| York-Hanover | $94K | +22% | 160 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $89K | +15% | 80 |
| Reading | $82K | +6% | 90 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $80K | +3% | 400 |
| Pittsburgh | $74K | -4% | 980 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $74K | -4% | 160 |
| Johnstown | $60K | -22% | 90 |
Compare to other states
Track chemists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a chemist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
Yes — at the median salary of $77K, rent takes 26.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for chemists in Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chemists typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,988/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 45% 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 Pennsylvania?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $77K here vs. $91K nationally. Cost of living is 5% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for chemists?
Pennsylvania pays $77K median vs. the U.S. average of $91K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $81K — below the national median.
How much do chemists make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $77,090 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,800, and experienced chemists can clear $144,860. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $77K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,021/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 26.9% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 $81,173 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.