Chemists pay range in Pittsburgh
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,450 a year or less, while the top 10% make $134,510 or more. The middle half of chemists in Pittsburgh earn between $59,140 and $102,770.
- $49K10th
- $59K25th
- $74KMedian
- $103K75th
- $135K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $86,060 | $7,172 | $41.38 |
| Median | $74,200 | $6,183 | $35.67 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $59,140 | $4,928 | $28.43 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $102,770 | $8,564 | $49.41 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chemists pay in Pittsburgh vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Chemists in Pittsburgh earn about the same as the Pennsylvania average ($87,990) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($100,450). At the median the gap is -19% against the U.S. median of $91,240.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh | $86,060 | $74,200 | $49,450 | $134,510 | 980 |
| Pennsylvania | $87,990 | $77,090 | $49,800 | $144,860 | 6,800 |
| 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 Pittsburgh
On the average salary of $86,060, a single filer in Pittsburgh takes home about $66,731 a year, or $5,561 a month and $2,567 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Pittsburgh a good place for chemists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Pittsburgh area are 5% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 94.7), so the average $86,060 buys what about $90,904 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Pittsburgh ($49,650). A typical home costs $231,356, or 2.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Chemists salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Pittsburgh ranks 7th of 9 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Scranton pays the most ($104,540).
- Scranton$104,540
- Philadelphia$103,090
- State College$101,480
- York$96,910
- Allentown$94,850
- Reading$94,050
- Pittsburgh$86,060
- Harrisburg$77,740
- Johnstown$61,200
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 Pittsburgh: questions
How much do chemists make an hour in Pittsburgh?
$41.38 an hour on average, and $35.67 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chemists salary in Pittsburgh?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,450 a year and the 25th percentile is $59,140, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chemists take-home pay in Pittsburgh?
About $66,731 a year ($5,561 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $86,060. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do chemists earn more in Pittsburgh than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% 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 Pittsburgh, PA (38300). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.8%.
- 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 (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.66, this job is 1.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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