Chemist Salary in Kansas City, MO
Chemists in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area earn a median $83,420 a year — 9% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $64,533 take-home, or $5,378 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median chemist salary in Kansas City, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,522
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,172
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,210
- Missouri income tax$2,983
- Take-home pay$64,533
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.70% state
The Kansas City, MO-KS metro spans Missouri, Kansas. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Chemist pay by experience in Kansas City, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $53,360 | $25.65 | $43,484 | $3,624 |
| 25th percentile | $62,750 | $30.17 | $50,588 | $4,216 |
| Median (50th) | $83,420 | $40.11 | $64,533 | $5,378 |
| 75th percentile | $107,080 | $51.48 | $80,065 | $6,672 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $134,660 | $64.74 | $97,914 | $8,160 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $83,420 buys in Kansas City, MO
Prices in Kansas City, MO are 7.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 13% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median chemist's $64,533 take-home pay has the buying power of $69,733 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 about as common in Kansas City, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.94).
Best-paying cities for chemists, adjusted for cost of living
Kansas City, MO ranks #16 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 |
| 16 | Kansas City, MO | $83,420 | $64,533 | $69,733 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 35 metros →
Chemist salaries elsewhere in Missouri
- St. Louis, MO — $86,690
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chemist make in Kansas City, MO?
The median chemist salary in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area is $83,420 a year, or about $40.11 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $62,750 and $107,080.
What is a chemist’s take-home pay in Kansas City, MO?
On the median $83,420 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $64,533 a year ($5,378 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,983 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is Kansas City, MO a good place to work as a chemist?
Pay here is 9% below the national median of $91,240. Local prices are 7.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $69,733 would in a typical U.S. city. Kansas City, MO ranks #16 of 35 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chemist afford rent in Kansas City, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Kansas City, MO is $1,193 a month ($1,355 for two bedrooms) — 22% of a median chemist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.