Chemical Technician salary in Reading, PA
Chemical Technicians in the Reading, PA metro area earn a median of $61,790 a year ($29.71 an hour), based on BLS data for 110 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,790 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $60,390. Pay here is 4% higher than the Pennsylvania statewide median of $59,420. There are 0.63 chemical technicians per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $60,310, close to the median.
Pay range for chemical technicians in Reading, PA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,580 | $19.51 |
| 25th percentile | $47,410 | $22.80 |
| Median | $61,790 | $29.71 |
| 75th percentile | $65,880 | $31.67 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,790 | $39.32 |
| Average (mean) | $60,310 | $29.00 |
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 | $5,149.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,574.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,376.54 |
| Weekly | $1,188.27 |
| Hourly | $29.71 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chemical Technician salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $66,940 | 1,370 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $64,740 | 260 |
| 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 |
See Chemical Technician pay in every state or the Pennsylvania statewide figures.
Related jobs in Reading, PA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $63,790 | $30.67 |
| Biological Technician | $50,400 | $24.23 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $93,880 | $45.13 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $87,280 | $41.96 |
| Chemist | $81,520 | $39.19 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $85,380 | $41.05 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | $62,280 | $29.94 |
| School Psychologist | $85,900 | $41.30 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $66,730 | $32.08 |
| Conservation Scientist | $60,000 | $28.85 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $83,620 | $40.20 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Reading, PA
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 Reading, PA?
The median salary for chemical technicians in the Reading, PA metro area is $61,790 a year, or $29.71 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,790 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemical technicians make in Reading, PA?
The top 10% of chemical technicians in the Reading, PA metro area earn at least $81,790 a year. The top 25% earn $65,880 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemical technicians in Reading, PA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,580 a year, and a quarter of chemical technicians earn $47,410 or less.
How many chemical technicians work in Reading, PA?
About 110 chemical technicians are employed in the Reading, PA metro area, not counting the self-employed.