Chemist salary in Pennsylvania
Chemists in Pennsylvania earn a median of $77,090 a year ($37.06 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,800 workers.
Pay ranges from $49,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $144,860 for the top 10%. That is 16% lower than the national median of $91,240. Pennsylvania ranks 45th of 51 states for chemists pay. There are 1.1 chemists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.1× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $87,990, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chemists in Pennsylvania
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,800 | $23.94 |
| 25th percentile | $62,430 | $30.02 |
| Median | $77,090 | $37.06 |
| 75th percentile | $101,550 | $48.82 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $144,860 | $69.65 |
| Average (mean) | $87,990 | $42.30 |
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 | $6,424.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,212.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,965 |
| Weekly | $1,482.50 |
| Hourly | $37.06 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chemist salary in cities in Pennsylvania
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| State College, PA | $107,890 | 50 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $95,440 | 4,520 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $94,200 | 160 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $88,530 | 80 |
| Reading, PA | $81,520 | 90 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $79,600 | 400 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $74,200 | 980 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $73,670 | 160 |
| Johnstown, PA | $59,920 | 90 |
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 |
Related jobs in Pennsylvania
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $76,110 | $36.59 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $84,180 | $40.47 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $134,780 | $64.80 |
| Physicist | $210,990 | $101.44 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $75,890 | $36.48 |
| Hydrologist | $91,730 | $44.10 |
| Materials Scientist | $106,920 | $51.41 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $99,190 | $47.69 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $87,050 | $41.85 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $91,870 | $44.17 |
| Biological Technician | $54,950 | $26.42 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $134,090 | $64.47 |
| Chemical Technician | $59,420 | $28.57 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $57,680 | $27.73 |
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 19-2031. 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 Pennsylvania?
The median salary for chemists in Pennsylvania is $77,090 a year, or $37.06 an hour. Pay ranges from $49,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $144,860 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemists make in Pennsylvania?
The top 10% of chemists in Pennsylvania earn at least $144,860 a year. The top 25% earn $101,550 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemists in Pennsylvania?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $49,800 a year, and a quarter of chemists earn $62,430 or less.
How many chemists work in Pennsylvania?
About 6,800 chemists are employed in Pennsylvania, not counting the self-employed.