Chemical Technician Salary in Houston, TX
Chemical Technicians in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $65,050 a year — 8% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $54,448 take-home, or $4,537 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median chemical technician salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,626
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,033
- Medicare (1.45%)$943
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$54,448
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Chemical Technician pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,540 | $21.41 | $37,968 | $3,164 |
| 25th percentile | $50,380 | $24.22 | $42,660 | $3,555 |
| Median (50th) | $65,050 | $31.27 | $54,448 | $4,537 |
| 75th percentile | $98,980 | $47.59 | $78,462 | $6,539 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $110,810 | $53.27 | $86,785 | $7,232 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $65,050 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median chemical technician's $54,448 take-home pay has the buying power of $55,205 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Houston, TX has 2.1× the national concentration of chemical technician jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for chemical technicians, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #1 of 2 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston, TX | $65,050 | $54,448 | $55,205 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $60,320 | $47,987 | $42,631 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 2 metros →
About the job: chemical technicians
Conduct chemical and physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative and quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, and gaseous materials for research and development of new products or processes, quality control, maintenance of environmental standards, and other work involving experimental, theoretical, or practical application of chemistry and related sciences.
- Typical education
- Associate's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +4.9% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chemical technician make in Houston, TX?
The median chemical technician salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $65,050 a year, or about $31.27 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $50,380 and $98,980.
What is a chemical technician’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $65,050 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $54,448 a year ($4,537 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a chemical technician?
Pay here is 8% above the national median of $60,390. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $55,205 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #1 of 2 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chemical technician afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 29% of a median chemical technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Houston, TX
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers — $174,490
- Chemist — $106,740
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialist — $82,910
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists — $80,470
- Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other — $48,680