Chemists Salary in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA
Chemists in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA make a median of $79,950 a year, or about $38.44 an hour. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $198K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.56), which stretches that salary to about $85,453 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,252/month, or 23.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $80K get you in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Scranton--Wilkes-Barre’s Regional Price Parity (93.56). 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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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA
Entry-level chemists (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $198K or more, a $148K spread from bottom to top.
Chemists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $153K | +82% | 250 |
| New Mexico | $134K | +60% | 210 |
| Maryland | $132K | +57% | 3,000 |
| Massachusetts | $127K | +51% | 3,340 |
| Delaware | $125K | +49% | 1,180 |
| Louisiana | $109K | +30% | 630 |
| West Virginia | $108K | +28% | 270 |
| Texas | $101K | +20% | 5,490 |
| Virginia | $100K | +19% | 1,340 |
| Rhode Island | $97K | +16% | 120 |
| Illinois | $97K | +15% | 3,250 |
| California | $97K | +15% | 8,480 |
| Alabama | $96K | +14% | 630 |
| Alaska | $95K | +13% | 40 |
| Georgia | $95K | +13% | 1,080 |
| Washington | $93K | +10% | 1,780 |
| Connecticut | $88K | +5% | 830 |
| New Jersey | $85K | +1% | 6,210 |
| Oregon | $84K | +0% | 600 |
| New York | $84K | -1% | 4,040 |
| Hawaii | $83K | -1% | 140 |
| Minnesota | $82K | -3% | 1,320 |
| Iowa | $82K | -3% | 600 |
| New Hampshire | $82K | -3% | 320 |
| Missouri | $82K | -3% | 1,750 |
| Vermont | $81K | -3% | 90 |
| Michigan | $81K | -3% | 3,200 |
| Ohio | $80K | -5% | 4,020 |
| Oklahoma | $80K | -5% | 690 |
| Kentucky | $80K | -5% | 610 |
| North Dakota | $79K | -6% | 140 |
| Arizona | $79K | -6% | 870 |
| North Carolina | $78K | -7% | 5,140 |
| Mississippi | $78K | -7% | 170 |
| South Carolina | $78K | -7% | 800 |
| Utah | $77K | -8% | 740 |
| Wyoming | $77K | -9% | 60 |
| Indiana | $76K | -10% | 2,070 |
| Wisconsin | $75K | -11% | 1,990 |
| Florida | $75K | -11% | 1,660 |
| Nevada | $73K | -13% | 190 |
| Arkansas | $71K | -16% | 390 |
| Nebraska | $68K | -19% | 360 |
| Kansas | $66K | -21% | 580 |
| Tennessee | $65K | -22% | 820 |
| South Dakota | $64K | -23% | 150 |
| Pennsylvania | $63K | -25% | 9,070 |
| Montana | $60K | -29% | 260 |
| Idaho | $59K | -29% | 360 |
| Maine | $59K | -30% | 160 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track chemists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Scranton--Wilkes-Barre numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do chemists make in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA?
The median is $79,950 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,990, and experienced chemists can clear $197,910. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,181/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,252/month, which eats 24.2% 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 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre?
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre has a Regional Price Parity of 93.56 (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 $85,453 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.