Investigate the properties and composition of matter to develop new products and materials. Median salary in Philadelphia: $94K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.
Figures represent annual base salary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial · How we calculate this →
Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above — specific to this role and city.
Chemists in Philadelphia earn approximately 18% higher than the US national median for this role — a $14,000 premium on annual base salary. This reflects Philadelphia's position as a higher-cost labor market where employers must match local wage norms.
Adjusted for Philadelphia's cost-of-living index (110), the median Chemist salary buys the equivalent of $85,455 in a US-average-cost city. That's $5,455 more purchasing power than the national median — a meaningful real-wage advantage.
Average 1-bedroom rent in Philadelphia ($1,650/mo) consumes approximately 31% of an after-tax median Chemist salary. Financial planners typically recommend keeping housing under 30% of take-home — a salary at the 75th percentile ($127K) brings that ratio into a more comfortable range here.
Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $94K by 2030.
Enter your email for free access. We'll send salary market updates — unsubscribe anytime.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
The median Chemist salary in Philadelphia, PA is $94,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Philadelphia–PA 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.
Entry-level Chemists in Philadelphia with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $68,000 and $94,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $94,000 to $127,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $127,000 to $168,000 or more.
Philadelphia has a cost of living index of 110 compared to the US national average of 100. Living costs in Philadelphia are close to the national average. Pennsylvania has a 3.07% state income tax rate.
Bachelor's or PhD in Chemistry. 22% of these roles offer some remote flexibility.