Chemists Salary
Chemists in Reno, NV make a median of $81,860 a year, or about $39.36 an hour. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $124K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 101.01), that's roughly $81,041 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,870/month, about 34.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $82K get you in Reno?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Reno’s Regional Price Parity (101.01). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About chemists
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What this looks like in Reno
Chemists pay in Reno tracks closely to the national median, $82K locally vs. $91K nationwide, a 10% difference. Rent runs $1,870/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 101.01) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for chemists in metros near Reno, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas | $81K | $81K |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $87K | $77K |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $128K | $111K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $95K | $85K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Reno, NV
Entry-level chemists (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $82K. Top earners bring in $124K or more, a $72K spread from bottom to top.
Chemists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Chemists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $150K | +64% | 280 |
| Maryland | $141K | +54% | 2,480 |
| Delaware | $130K | +42% | 1,200 |
| New Mexico | $127K | +39% | 280 |
| Massachusetts | $125K | +37% | 3,430 |
| Alaska | $106K | +16% | 60 |
| Oregon | $105K | +15% | 730 |
| Louisiana | $104K | +14% | 740 |
| Wyoming | $102K | +12% | 80 |
| Colorado | $102K | +12% | 1,790 |
| Rhode Island | $102K | +11% | 150 |
| New Hampshire | $100K | +10% | 300 |
| Texas | $100K | +9% | 5,130 |
| Minnesota | $99K | +9% | 1,680 |
| Connecticut | $98K | +8% | 1,170 |
| California | $98K | +7% | 9,820 |
| Alabama | $98K | +7% | 700 |
| Michigan | $97K | +7% | 3,490 |
| Washington | $97K | +7% | 2,280 |
| North Dakota | $97K | +7% | 160 |
| Virginia | $97K | +6% | 1,640 |
| Georgia | $93K | +2% | 1,260 |
| New York | $91K | -1% | 4,230 |
| Tennessee | $88K | -4% | 960 |
| Vermont | $86K | -6% | 80 |
| Iowa | $86K | -6% | 570 |
| West Virginia | $86K | -6% | 180 |
| Ohio | $85K | -7% | 4,010 |
| Illinois | $85K | -7% | 3,040 |
| New Jersey | $84K | -7% | 5,280 |
| Hawaii | $84K | -8% | 140 |
| Kentucky | $84K | -8% | 530 |
| Kansas | $83K | -9% | 690 |
| Missouri | $83K | -9% | 1,640 |
| Florida | $83K | -9% | 1,490 |
| North Carolina | $83K | -9% | 4,530 |
| Arizona | $82K | -10% | 870 |
| Nevada | $81K | -11% | 280 |
| Utah | $81K | -11% | 910 |
| Mississippi | $80K | -12% | 200 |
| South Carolina | $80K | -13% | 770 |
| Indiana | $79K | -14% | 2,480 |
| Wisconsin | $79K | -14% | 1,920 |
| Idaho | $78K | -15% | 320 |
| Pennsylvania | $77K | -16% | 6,800 |
| Arkansas | $76K | -17% | 380 |
| Oklahoma | $75K | -18% | 630 |
| Nebraska | $75K | -18% | 350 |
| South Dakota | $67K | -26% | 170 |
| Maine | $64K | -29% | 140 |
| Montana | $62K | -32% | 300 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track chemists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Reno numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
Can a chemist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Reno?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $82K, rent takes 34% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,870/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for chemists in Reno?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chemists typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,085/month. At HUD’s $1,870/month FMR, rent would take 61% 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 Reno?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $82K locally vs. $91K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Reno compare to the national average for chemists?
Reno pays $82K median vs. the U.S. average of $91K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 101.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $81K — below the national median.
How much do chemists make in Reno, NV?
The median is $81,860 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $51,420, and experienced chemists can clear $123,720. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $82K enough to live in Reno?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,498/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,870/month, which eats 34% 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 Reno?
Reno has a Regional Price Parity of 101.01 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median chemists salary is worth about $81,041 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.