Chemists pay range in Louisville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,570 a year or less, while the top 10% make $129,970 or more. The middle half of chemists in Louisville earn between $66,350 and $105,370.
- $59K10th
- $66K25th
- $86KMedian
- $105K75th
- $130K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $89,860 | $7,488 | $43.20 |
| Median | $86,090 | $7,174 | $41.39 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $66,350 | $5,529 | $31.90 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $105,370 | $8,781 | $50.66 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chemists pay in Louisville vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Chemists in Louisville earn 4% more than the Kentucky average ($86,740) and 11% less than the U.S. average ($100,450). At the median the gap is -6% against the U.S. median of $91,240.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | $89,860 | $86,090 | $58,570 | $129,970 | 110 |
| 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 Louisville
On the average salary of $89,860, a single filer in Louisville takes home about $67,042 a year, or $5,587 a month and $2,579 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
The Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $69,381 | $5,782 |
| Working in KY | $67,042 | $5,587 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
Is Louisville a good place for chemists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Louisville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.1), so the average $89,860 buys what about $96,547 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Louisville ($48,370). A typical home costs $283,232, or 3.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Chemists salary in other Kentucky cities
Louisville ranks 2nd 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
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Chemists salary in Louisville: questions
How much do chemists make an hour in Louisville?
$43.20 an hour on average, and $41.39 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chemists salary in Louisville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,570 a year and the 25th percentile is $66,350, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chemists take-home pay in Louisville?
About $67,042 a year ($5,587 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $89,860. Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
Do chemists earn more in Louisville than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% 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 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN (31140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.7%.
- 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 Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.30, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.30).
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