Chemist Salary in Seattle, WA
Chemists in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $87,990 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $70,731 take-home, or $5,894 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median chemist salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$10,528
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,455
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,276
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$70,731
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Chemist pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $66,220 | $31.84 | $55,388 | $4,616 |
| 25th percentile | $79,020 | $37.99 | $64,421 | $5,368 |
| Median (50th) | $87,990 | $42.30 | $70,731 | $5,894 |
| 75th percentile | $117,470 | $56.48 | $91,470 | $7,623 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $168,430 | $80.98 | $126,388 | $10,532 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $87,990 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median chemist's $70,731 take-home pay has the buying power of $63,645 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 Seattle, WA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.98).
Best-paying cities for chemists, adjusted for cost of living
Seattle, WA ranks #25 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 |
| 25 | Seattle, WA | $87,990 | $70,731 | $63,645 |
*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 Seattle, WA?
The median chemist salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $87,990 a year, or about $42.30 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $79,020 and $117,470.
What is a chemist’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $87,990 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $70,731 a year ($5,894 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a chemist?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $91,240. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $63,645 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #25 of 35 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chemist afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 34% of a median chemist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Seattle, WA
- Epidemiologist — $123,970
- School Psychologist — $115,570
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialist — $109,500
- Biological Scientists, All Other — $108,580
- Urban and Regional Planner — $108,040
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers — $107,800
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists — $105,430
- Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other — $105,140
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health — $102,980
- Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist — $96,450
- Biological Technician — $63,770