SOC 17-2041 · Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro

Chemical Engineers Salary in Cincinnati, OH

The average salary for chemical engineers in Cincinnati, Ohio is $113,380 a year ($54.51 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $107,610: half of the 300 people in this job in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 12% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($128,636).

$113,380average per year

$54.51 / hourMedian $107,610Take-home ≈ $83,869

  • $66K10th
  • $79K25th
  • $108KMedian
  • $131K75th
  • $160K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers

300people in this job
-12%vs U.S. metro average
#6 of 6Ohio metros
95cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Chemical Engineers pay range in Cincinnati

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $66,360 a year or less, while the top 10% make $160,290 or more. The middle half of chemical engineers in Cincinnati earn between $78,730 and $131,490.

  • $66K10th
  • $79K25th
  • $108KMedian
  • $131K75th
  • $160K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$113,380$9,448$54.51
Median$107,610$8,968$51.74
Entry level (25th percentile)$78,730$6,561$37.85
Experienced (75th percentile)$131,490$10,958$63.22

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.

Chemical Engineers salary after taxes in Cincinnati

On the average salary of $113,380, a single filer in Cincinnati takes home about $83,869 a year, or $6,989 a month and $3,226 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.

The Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:

StatePer yearPer month
Working in IN$85,221$7,102
Working in KY$84,742$7,062
Working in OH$83,869$6,989

Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Cincinnati's local income tax (1.8%); the city income tax is that of the principal city (suburbs have their own rates) and school district income taxes are not included.

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Is Cincinnati a good place for chemical engineers? Pay vs. cost of living

Prices in the Cincinnati area are 5% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.4), so the average $113,380 buys what about $118,884 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Cincinnati ($50,170). A typical home costs $311,270, or 2.7 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $113,380 is worth in another city

Chemical Engineers salary in other Ohio cities

Cincinnati ranks 6th of 6 Ohio metro areas for this job; Toledo pays the most ($139,120).

All Chemical Engineers salaries in Ohio

Highest-paying cities for chemical engineers

Houston, TX pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($155,750).

Chemical Engineers salary by city

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Chemical Engineers salary in Cincinnati: questions

How much do chemical engineers make an hour in Cincinnati?

$54.51 an hour on average, and $51.74 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level chemical engineers salary in Cincinnati?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $66,360 a year and the 25th percentile is $78,730, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the chemical engineers take-home pay in Cincinnati?

About $83,869 a year ($6,989 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $113,380. Includes Cincinnati's local income tax (1.8%); the city income tax is that of the principal city (suburbs have their own rates) and school district income taxes are not included.

Do chemical engineers earn more in Cincinnati than elsewhere?

The average here is 12% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($128,636).

Sources and how to read this page

  • Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-2041; area Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN (17140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.6%.
  • Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
  • Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
  • Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Cincinnati's local income tax (1.8%); the city income tax is that of the principal city (suburbs have their own rates) and school district income taxes are not included.
  • Job concentration: location quotient 2.00, this job is 2.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.

Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.