Chemical Engineers pay range in Pittsburgh
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $89,940 a year or less, while the top 10% make $174,940 or more. The middle half of chemical engineers in Pittsburgh earn between $96,720 and $174,940.
- $90K10th
- $97K25th
- $152KMedian
- $175K75th
- $175K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $139,050 | $11,588 | $66.85 |
| Median | $152,290 | $12,691 | $73.22 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $96,720 | $8,060 | $46.50 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $174,940 | $14,578 | $84.11 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chemical Engineers pay in Pittsburgh vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Chemical engineers in Pittsburgh earn 9% more than the Pennsylvania average ($127,520) and 7% more than the U.S. average ($129,980). At the median the gap is +22% against the U.S. median of $125,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh | $139,050 | $152,290 | $89,940 | $174,940 | 110 |
| Pennsylvania | $127,520 | $116,970 | $79,940 | $177,510 | 810 |
| United States | $129,980 | $125,040 | $79,420 | $182,880 | 21,070 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chemical Engineers salary after taxes in Pittsburgh
On the average salary of $139,050, a single filer in Pittsburgh takes home about $102,038 a year, or $8,503 a month and $3,925 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Pittsburgh a good place for chemical engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Pittsburgh area are 5% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 94.7), so the average $139,050 buys what about $146,877 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Pittsburgh ($49,650). A typical home costs $231,356, or 1.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Chemical Engineers salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Pittsburgh ranks 1st of 3 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Pittsburgh$139,050
- Philadelphia$128,970
- Reading$107,820
Highest-paying cities for chemical engineers
Houston, TX pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($155,750).
- Houston, TX$155,750
- Austin, TX$149,140
- Dallas, TX$147,410
- Lake Charles, LA$144,900
- Trenton, NJ$144,720
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Chemical Engineers salary in Pittsburgh: questions
How much do chemical engineers make an hour in Pittsburgh?
$66.85 an hour on average, and $73.22 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chemical engineers salary in Pittsburgh?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $89,940 a year and the 25th percentile is $96,720, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chemical engineers take-home pay in Pittsburgh?
About $102,038 a year ($8,503 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $139,050. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do chemical engineers earn more in Pittsburgh than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% more than the U.S. average for this job ($129,980).
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 17-2041; area Pittsburgh, PA (38300). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.8%.
- 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 (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.71, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.71).
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