Chemist Salary in St. Louis, MO
Chemists in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $86,690 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $66,679 take-home, or $5,557 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median chemist salary in St. Louis, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$10,242
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,375
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,257
- Missouri income tax$3,137
- Take-home pay$66,679
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.70% state
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro spans Missouri, Illinois. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Chemist pay by experience in St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $53,430 | $25.69 | $43,537 | $3,628 |
| 25th percentile | $65,440 | $31.46 | $52,623 | $4,385 |
| Median (50th) | $86,690 | $41.68 | $66,679 | $5,557 |
| 75th percentile | $125,600 | $60.38 | $92,148 | $7,679 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $151,290 | $72.74 | $108,499 | $9,042 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $86,690 buys in St. Louis, MO
Prices in St. Louis, MO are 4.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median chemist's $66,679 take-home pay has the buying power of $70,124 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
St. Louis, MO has 1.5× the national concentration of chemist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for chemists, adjusted for cost of living
St. Louis, MO ranks #14 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 |
| 14 | St. Louis, MO | $86,690 | $66,679 | $70,124 |
*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
- Kansas City, MO — $83,420
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chemist make in St. Louis, MO?
The median chemist salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $86,690 a year, or about $41.68 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $65,440 and $125,600.
What is a chemist’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $86,690 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $66,679 a year ($5,557 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,137 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a chemist?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $91,240. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $70,124 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #14 of 35 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chemist afford rent in St. Louis, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Louis, MO is $989 a month ($1,211 for two bedrooms) — 18% of a median chemist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.