Chemists pay range in Lexington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,410 a year or less, while the top 10% make $98,030 or more. The middle half of chemists in Lexington earn between $62,810 and $84,090.
- $52K10th
- $63K25th
- $69KMedian
- $84K75th
- $98K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $74,890 | $6,241 | $36.00 |
| Median | $68,640 | $5,720 | $33.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $62,810 | $5,234 | $30.20 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $84,090 | $7,008 | $40.43 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chemists pay in Lexington vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Chemists in Lexington earn 14% less than the Kentucky average ($86,740) and 25% less than the U.S. average ($100,450). At the median the gap is -25% against the U.S. median of $91,240.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | $74,890 | $68,640 | $52,410 | $98,030 | 120 |
| Kentucky | $86,740 | $84,090 | $54,950 | $126,060 | 530 |
| United States | $100,450 | $91,240 | $58,460 | $160,830 | 82,770 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chemists salary after taxes in Lexington
On the average salary of $74,890, a single filer in Lexington takes home about $56,952 a year, or $4,746 a month and $2,190 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Is Lexington a good place for chemists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lexington area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.9), so the average $74,890 buys what about $80,623 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Lexington ($48,620). A typical home costs $327,671, or 4.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Chemists salary in other Kentucky cities
Lexington ranks 3rd of 3 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Bowling Green pays the most ($90,450).
- Bowling Green$90,450
- Louisville$89,860
- Lexington$74,890
Highest-paying cities for chemists
Washington, DC pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($144,550).
- Washington, DC$144,550
- Bay City, MI$139,910
- Lexington Park, MD$132,480
- San Francisco, CA$130,870
- Boston, MA$130,520
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Chemists salary in Lexington: questions
How much do chemists make an hour in Lexington?
$36.01 an hour on average, and $33.00 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chemists salary in Lexington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,410 a year and the 25th percentile is $62,810, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chemists take-home pay in Lexington?
About $56,952 a year ($4,746 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $74,890. Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Do chemists earn more in Lexington than elsewhere?
The average here is 25% less than the U.S. average for this job ($100,450).
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 19-2031; area Lexington-Fayette, KY (30460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- 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 Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.78, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.78).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.