Chemists Salary
Chemists in Rhode Island make a median of $101,660 a year, or about $48.88 an hour. The range runs from $70K at the entry level to $147K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 101.77), that's roughly $99,892 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,544/month, or 24.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Rhode Island. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $102K get you in Rhode Island?
About chemists
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What this looks like in Rhode Island
Rhode Island sits well above the national pay line for chemists, local pay runs about 11% higher than the U.S. median of $91K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,544/month, 24.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 101.77) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Rhode Island offers a genuinely strong financial position for chemistss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Rhode Island
Entry-level chemists (10th percentile) start around $70K. Mid-career wages sit at $102K. Top earners bring in $147K or more, a $77K spread from bottom to top.
Chemists salary by metro in Rhode Island
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick | $101K | -1% | 190 |
Compare to other states
Track chemists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Rhode Island numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a chemist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Rhode Island?
Yes — at the median salary of $102K, rent takes 24.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,544/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for chemists in Rhode Island?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chemists typically earn — is $70K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,213/month. At HUD’s $1,544/month FMR, rent would take 37% 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 Rhode Island?
Local pay is 11% above the national median — $102K here vs. $91K nationally.
How does Rhode Island compare to the national average for chemists?
Rhode Island pays $102K median vs. the U.S. average of $91K — that’s +11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 101.77), the purchasing-power equivalent is $100K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do chemists make in Rhode Island?
The median is $101,660 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $70,210, and experienced chemists can clear $146,830. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $102K enough to live in Rhode Island?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,357/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,544/month, which eats 24.3% 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 Rhode Island?
Rhode Island has a Regional Price Parity of 101.77 (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 $99,892 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.