Chemists pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $71,120 a year or less, while the top 10% make $212,220 or more. The middle half of chemists in Boston earn between $86,330 and $164,790.
- $71K10th
- $86K25th
- $127KMedian
- $165K75th
- $212K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $130,520 | $10,877 | $62.75 |
| Median | $127,290 | $10,608 | $61.20 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $86,330 | $7,194 | $41.50 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $164,790 | $13,732 | $79.23 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chemists pay in Boston vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Chemists in Boston earn about the same as the Massachusetts average ($128,930) and 30% more than the U.S. average ($100,450). At the median the gap is +40% against the U.S. median of $91,240.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $130,520 | $127,290 | $71,120 | $212,220 | 2,960 |
| Massachusetts | $128,930 | $125,000 | $71,120 | $212,210 | 3,430 |
| United States | $100,450 | $91,240 | $58,460 | $160,830 | 82,770 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chemists salary after taxes in Boston
On the average salary of $130,520, a single filer in Boston takes home about $94,270 a year, or $7,856 a month and $3,626 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NH | $100,476 | $8,373 |
| Working in MA | $94,270 | $7,856 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Boston a good place for chemists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boston area are 8% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.3), so the average $130,520 buys what about $120,555 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 5.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Chemists salary in other Massachusetts cities
Boston ranks 1st of 2 Massachusetts metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Boston$130,520
- Worcester$110,690
Highest-paying cities for chemists
Washington, DC pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($144,550).
- Washington, DC$144,550
- Bay City, MI$139,910
- Lexington Park, MD$132,480
- San Francisco, CA$130,870
- Boston, MA$130,520
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Chemists salary in Boston: questions
How much do chemists make an hour in Boston?
$62.75 an hour on average, and $61.20 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chemists salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $71,120 a year and the 25th percentile is $86,330, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chemists take-home pay in Boston?
About $94,270 a year ($7,856 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $130,520. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do chemists earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 30% more than the U.S. average for this job ($100,450).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-2031; area Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.06, this job is 2.1 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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