Chemists pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,670 a year or less, while the top 10% make $126,500 or more. The middle half of chemists in Charleston earn between $55,190 and $126,450.
- $52K10th
- $55K25th
- $89KMedian
- $126K75th
- $126K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $88,900 | $7,408 | $42.74 |
| Median | $88,640 | $7,387 | $42.62 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $55,190 | $4,599 | $26.53 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $126,450 | $10,538 | $60.79 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chemists pay in Charleston vs. West Virginia and the U.S.
Chemists in Charleston earn 4% less than the West Virginia average ($92,500) and 11% less than the U.S. average ($100,450). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $91,240.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $88,900 | $88,640 | $51,670 | $126,500 | 30 |
| West Virginia | $92,500 | $85,560 | $59,600 | $132,380 | 180 |
| 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 Charleston
On the average salary of $88,900, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $68,189 a year, or $5,682 a month and $2,623 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Charleston a good place for chemists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charleston area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.7), so the average $88,900 buys what about $100,206 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($45,830). A typical home costs $148,817, or 1.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Chemists salary in other West Virginia cities
Charleston ranks 2nd of 3 West Virginia metro areas for this job; Morgantown pays the most ($89,880).
- Morgantown$89,880
- Charleston$88,900
- Huntington$80,200
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 Charleston: questions
How much do chemists make an hour in Charleston?
$42.74 an hour on average, and $42.62 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chemists salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,670 a year and the 25th percentile is $55,190, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chemists take-home pay in Charleston?
About $68,189 a year ($5,682 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $88,900.
Do chemists earn more in Charleston 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 Charleston, WV (16620). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.3%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.60, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.60).
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