Chemist Salary in New York, NY
Chemists in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area earn a median $85,150 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $64,732 take-home, or $5,394 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median chemist salary in New York, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,903
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,279
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,235
- New York income tax$4,001
- Take-home pay$64,732
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.40% state
Living in New York City? City residents also pay New York City’s city income tax — about $2,866 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $61,866 ($5,156 a month). Choose “New York City” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro spans New York, New Jersey. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Chemist pay by experience in New York, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,980 | $29.32 | $48,482 | $4,040 |
| 25th percentile | $76,940 | $36.99 | $59,400 | $4,950 |
| Median (50th) | $85,150 | $40.94 | $64,732 | $5,394 |
| 75th percentile | $108,700 | $52.26 | $79,927 | $6,661 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $144,260 | $69.36 | $102,397 | $8,533 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $85,150 buys in New York, NY
Prices in New York, NY are 12.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.49× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median chemist's $64,732 take-home pay has the buying power of $57,507 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
New York, NY has 1.3× the national concentration of chemist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for chemists, adjusted for cost of living
New York, NY ranks #6 of 7 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $144,680 | $100,825 | $92,599 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $127,290 | $92,124 | $85,091 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $106,740 | $83,922 | $85,088 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $95,440 | $73,042 | $71,223 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $90,920 | $68,436 | $66,062 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $85,150 | $64,732 | $57,507 |
| 7 | Los Angeles, CA | $87,060 | $65,078 | $57,304 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 7 metros →
About the job: chemists
Conduct qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses or experiments in laboratories for quality or process control or to develop new products or knowledge.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +6.4% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chemist make in New York, NY?
The median chemist salary in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area is $85,150 a year, or about $40.94 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $76,940 and $108,700.
What is a chemist’s take-home pay in New York, NY?
On the median $85,150 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $64,732 a year ($5,394 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,001 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is New York, NY a good place to work as a chemist?
Pay here is 7% below the national median of $91,240. Local prices are 12.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $57,507 would in a typical U.S. city. New York, NY ranks #6 of 7 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chemist afford rent in New York, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New York, NY is $2,378 a month ($2,697 for two bedrooms) — 44% of a median chemist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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