Strong 18.5% annual wage growth
This role's national salaries are growing at 18.5% year-over-year, well above the BLS all-occupations average of ~3.5%. If that pace holds, the Albany median reaches $165,901 in five years.
CannabisUpdated Q1 2026
Cannabis Chemist Salary
in Albany, NY
Test cannabis products for potency, purity, and contaminants to ensure safety standards. Median salary in Albany: $71K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.
Median salary
$71K
per year
Take-home: $45K
Salary range in Albany
Entry level (25th)$51,000
Median (50th)$71,000
Senior (75th)$96,000
Top earner (90th)$129,000
Data freshness
- BLS OEWS · May 2025 release · pulled August 2025
- DOL H-1B LCA Disclosures · FY2026 Q1 · pulled February 2026
- C2ER Cost of Living Index · 2026 Q1 · pulled April 2026
Figures represent annual base salary in Albany, New York. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial · How we calculate this →
Help build this dataset. Add your own Cannabis Chemist salary so other workers in Albany have better numbers to work with.
Submit yours →What the numbers say for Albany
Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above — specific to this role and city.
Rent eats 35% of take-home
Average 1-bedroom rent in Albany ($1,300/mo) consumes approximately 35% of an after-tax median Cannabis Chemist salary. Financial planners typically recommend keeping housing under 30% of take-home — a salary at the 75th percentile ($96K) brings that ratio into a more comfortable range here.
Primarily on-site role
Only 10% of Cannabis Chemist positions offer remote flexibility, meaning the Albany salary above represents what local employers actually pay — not a remote-anywhere rate. Geographic constraints reinforce the local market, so the salary range above is more directly applicable than for remote-friendly roles.
Key facts for Albany
Median salary
$71K
annual
Take-home pay
$45K
after fed/state tax
COL index
98
100 = US avg
State income tax
6.85%
effective rate
Avg 1BR rent
$1,300
per month
YoY growth
+18.5%
salary trend
Salary forecast: Albany Cannabis Chemist to 2030
Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $71K by 2030.
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Cannabis Chemist Salary in Albany, New York: Complete Guide (2026)
The median Cannabis Chemist salary in Albany, NY is $71,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Albany–NY metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.
Salary range for Cannabis Chemist in Albany
Entry-level Cannabis Chemists in Albany with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $51,000 and $71,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $71,000 to $96,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $96,000 to $129,000 or more.
Cost of living in Albany for Cannabis Chemists
Albany has a cost of living index of 98 compared to the US national average of 100. This means your salary goes approximately 2% further in Albany than the national average. New York has a 6.85% state income tax rate.
Education requirements for Cannabis Chemist
Bachelor's in Chemistry; cannabis lab testing experience; state certification. 10% of these roles offer some remote flexibility.