Investigate the properties and composition of matter to develop new products and materials. Median salary in Reno: $78K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.
Figures represent annual base salary in Reno, Nevada. 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 Reno earn approximately 2% lower than the US national median for this role — a $2,000 discount on annual base salary. Reno's lower wage level partially reflects the area's cost-of-living index of 108 (US avg = 100).
Adjusted for Reno's cost-of-living index (108), the median Chemist salary buys the equivalent of $72,222 in a US-average-cost city. That's $7,778 less purchasing power than the national median — the higher nominal salary doesn't fully offset local costs.
Nevada has no state income tax, which is worth roughly $7,254 per year at this salary level compared to a California Chemist on the same gross pay. A Reno Chemist would need to earn $85,998 in California to net the same take-home.
Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $78K 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 Reno, NV is $78,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Reno–NV 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 Reno with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $57,000 and $78,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $78,000 to $106,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $106,000 to $139,000 or more.
Reno has a cost of living index of 108 compared to the US national average of 100. Living costs in Reno are close to the national average. Crucially, Nevada has no state income tax — giving Reno-based Chemists an immediate 3–5% take-home pay advantage over workers in states like California (9.3%) or New York (6.85%).
Bachelor's or PhD in Chemistry. 22% of these roles offer some remote flexibility.