Chemist Salary in Atlanta, GA
Chemists in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area earn a median $97,930 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $73,264 take-home, or $6,105 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median chemist salary in Atlanta, GA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$12,715
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,072
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,420
- Georgia income tax$4,460
- Take-home pay$73,264
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.19% state
Chemist pay by experience in Atlanta, GA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,250 | $29.45 | $48,838 | $4,070 |
| 25th percentile | $70,580 | $33.93 | $55,443 | $4,620 |
| Median (50th) | $97,930 | $47.08 | $73,264 | $6,105 |
| 75th percentile | $129,240 | $62.13 | $93,517 | $7,793 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $144,870 | $69.65 | $103,389 | $8,616 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Georgia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $97,930 buys in Atlanta, GA
Prices in Atlanta, GA are 0.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.11× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median chemist's $73,264 take-home pay has the buying power of $73,222 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chemist jobs are less concentrated in Atlanta, GA than nationally (location quotient 0.48), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for chemists, adjusted for cost of living
Atlanta, GA ranks #10 of 35 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 | Baltimore, MD | $118,880 | $87,148 | $83,406 |
| 5 | Cincinnati, OH | $96,170 | $74,623 | $78,246 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $127,790 | $89,294 | $77,236 |
| 7 | Columbus, OH | $94,170 | $73,271 | $76,749 |
| 8 | Boulder, CO | $105,590 | $79,175 | $75,260 |
| 10 | Atlanta, GA | $97,930 | $73,264 | $73,222 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 35 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chemist make in Atlanta, GA?
The median chemist salary in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area is $97,930 a year, or about $47.08 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $70,580 and $129,240.
What is a chemist’s take-home pay in Atlanta, GA?
On the median $97,930 salary, a single filer living in Georgia takes home about $73,264 a year ($6,105 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,460 in Georgia taxes in 2026.
Is Atlanta, GA a good place to work as a chemist?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $91,240. Local prices are 0.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $73,222 would in a typical U.S. city. Atlanta, GA ranks #10 of 35 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chemist afford rent in Atlanta, GA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Atlanta, GA is $1,646 a month ($1,806 for two bedrooms) — 27% of a median chemist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Atlanta, GA
- Physical Scientists, All Other — $137,680
- Microbiologist — $109,320
- School Psychologist — $99,110
- Biological Scientists, All Other — $97,160
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologist — $97,090
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialist — $91,620
- Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other — $88,610
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health — $87,820
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists — $87,490
- Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other — $87,180
- Urban and Regional Planner — $81,240
- Occupational Health and Safety Technician — $67,550