Chemist salary in Cleveland, OH
Chemists in the Cleveland, OH metro area earn a median of $82,020 a year ($39.43 an hour), based on BLS data for 680 workers.
Pay ranges from $61,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $128,860 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $91,240. Pay here is 4% lower than the Ohio statewide median of $85,270. There are 0.66 chemists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $93,270, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chemists in Cleveland, OH
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,640 | $29.63 |
| 25th percentile | $73,370 | $35.27 |
| Median | $82,020 | $39.43 |
| 75th percentile | $104,860 | $50.42 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $128,860 | $61.95 |
| Average (mean) | $93,270 | $44.84 |
Half of chemists 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 | $6,835 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,417.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,154.62 |
| Weekly | $1,577.31 |
| Hourly | $39.43 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chemist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $104,510 | 230 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $96,170 | 930 |
| Columbus, OH | $94,170 | 1,170 |
| Akron, OH | $78,990 | 200 |
| Toledo, OH | $78,250 | 150 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $76,660 | 50 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $76,110 | 40 |
| Lima, OH | $72,570 | 100 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | $65,170 | 30 |
Highest-paying states for chemists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $149,860 |
| Maryland | $140,670 |
| Delaware | $129,860 |
| New Mexico | $126,960 |
| Massachusetts | $125,000 |
| Alaska | $106,010 |
| Oregon | $104,590 |
| Louisiana | $103,890 |
| Wyoming | $102,000 |
| Colorado | $101,980 |
See Chemist pay in every state or the Ohio statewide figures.
Related jobs in Cleveland, OH
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $66,890 | $32.16 |
| Physicist | $239,360 | $115.08 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $77,890 | $37.45 |
| Materials Scientist | $111,810 | $53.75 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $106,620 | $51.26 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $78,800 | $37.88 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $88,070 | $42.34 |
| Chemical Technician | $62,080 | $29.85 |
| Biological Technician | $52,690 | $25.33 |
| School Psychologist | $94,250 | $45.31 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $101,660 | $48.88 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $49,090 | $23.60 |
| Conservation Scientist | $63,160 | $30.37 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | $63,980 | $30.76 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Cleveland, OH
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-2031. 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 chemist make in Cleveland, OH?
The median salary for chemists in the Cleveland, OH metro area is $82,020 a year, or $39.43 an hour. Pay ranges from $61,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $128,860 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemists make in Cleveland, OH?
The top 10% of chemists in the Cleveland, OH metro area earn at least $128,860 a year. The top 25% earn $104,860 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemists in Cleveland, OH?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $61,640 a year, and a quarter of chemists earn $73,370 or less.
How many chemists work in Cleveland, OH?
About 680 chemists are employed in the Cleveland, OH metro area, not counting the self-employed.