Chemical Technician salary in Pennsylvania
Chemical Technicians in Pennsylvania earn a median of $59,420 a year ($28.57 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,710 workers.
Pay ranges from $41,090 for the lowest-paid 10% to $85,890 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $60,390. Pennsylvania ranks 25th of 51 states for chemical technicians pay. There are 0.45 chemical technicians per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $62,260, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chemical technicians in Pennsylvania
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,090 | $19.76 |
| 25th percentile | $47,690 | $22.93 |
| Median | $59,420 | $28.57 |
| 75th percentile | $75,150 | $36.13 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $85,890 | $41.30 |
| Average (mean) | $62,260 | $29.94 |
Half of chemical technicians earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,951.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,475.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,285.38 |
| Weekly | $1,142.69 |
| Hourly | $28.57 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chemical Technician salary in cities in Pennsylvania
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $66,940 | 1,370 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $64,740 | 260 |
| Reading, PA | $61,790 | 110 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $61,740 | 60 |
| Altoona, PA | $55,650 | 30 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $52,170 | 70 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $51,030 | 540 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $49,390 | 90 |
Highest-paying states for chemical technicians
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Louisiana | $85,850 |
| Alaska | $79,380 |
| Delaware | $78,620 |
| South Carolina | $75,020 |
| Missouri | $68,550 |
| Massachusetts | $67,570 |
| Arizona | $65,860 |
| Vermont | $65,560 |
| Hawaii | $63,910 |
| Colorado | $63,770 |
Related jobs in Pennsylvania
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Biological Technician | $54,950 | $26.42 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $57,680 | $27.73 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $60,650 | $29.16 |
| Social Science Research Assistant | $54,610 | $26.26 |
| Food Science Technician | $48,060 | $23.11 |
| Forest and Conservation Technicians | $57,370 | $27.58 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $61,580 | $29.60 |
| Nuclear Technician | $124,070 | $59.65 |
| Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians | $47,380 | $22.78 |
| Agricultural Technician | $48,800 | $23.46 |
| Hydrologic Technician | $65,420 | $31.45 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $99,190 | $47.69 |
| Chemist | $77,090 | $37.06 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $87,050 | $41.85 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Pennsylvania
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-4031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chemical technician make in Pennsylvania?
The median salary for chemical technicians in Pennsylvania is $59,420 a year, or $28.57 an hour. Pay ranges from $41,090 for the lowest-paid 10% to $85,890 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemical technicians make in Pennsylvania?
The top 10% of chemical technicians in Pennsylvania earn at least $85,890 a year. The top 25% earn $75,150 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemical technicians in Pennsylvania?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $41,090 a year, and a quarter of chemical technicians earn $47,690 or less.
How many chemical technicians work in Pennsylvania?
About 2,710 chemical technicians are employed in Pennsylvania, not counting the self-employed.