Chemist Salary in Philadelphia, PA
Chemists in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median $95,440 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $73,042 take-home, or $6,087 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median chemist salary in Philadelphia, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$12,167
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,917
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,384
- Pennsylvania income tax$2,930
- Take-home pay$73,042
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.07% state
Living in Philadelphia? City residents also pay Philadelphia’s Resident Wage Tax — about $3,569 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $69,473 ($5,789 a month). Choose “Philadelphia” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland. 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 Philadelphia, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,150 | $30.36 | $50,982 | $4,249 |
| 25th percentile | $65,450 | $31.47 | $52,760 | $4,397 |
| Median (50th) | $95,440 | $45.88 | $73,042 | $6,087 |
| 75th percentile | $133,540 | $64.20 | $98,441 | $8,203 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $163,820 | $78.76 | $118,208 | $9,851 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $95,440 buys in Philadelphia, PA
Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 2.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median chemist's $73,042 take-home pay has the buying power of $71,223 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Philadelphia, PA has 2.9× the national concentration of chemist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for chemists, adjusted for cost of living
Philadelphia, PA ranks #4 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 Philadelphia, PA?
The median chemist salary in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $95,440 a year, or about $45.88 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $65,450 and $133,540.
What is a chemist’s take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA?
On the median $95,440 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $73,042 a year ($6,087 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,930 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Philadelphia, PA a good place to work as a chemist?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $91,240. Local prices are 2.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $71,223 would in a typical U.S. city. Philadelphia, PA ranks #4 of 7 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chemist afford rent in Philadelphia, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Philadelphia, PA is $1,520 a month ($1,810 for two bedrooms) — 25% of a median chemist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Philadelphia, PA
- Biochemist and Biophysicist — $134,090
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists — $102,950