Chemical Engineers pay range in Memphis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $72,650 a year or less, while the top 10% make $162,770 or more. The middle half of chemical engineers in Memphis earn between $79,690 and $128,690.
- $73K10th
- $80K25th
- $109KMedian
- $129K75th
- $163K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $112,200 | $9,350 | $53.94 |
| Median | $108,570 | $9,048 | $52.20 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $79,690 | $6,641 | $38.31 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $128,690 | $10,724 | $61.87 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chemical Engineers pay in Memphis vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Chemical engineers in Memphis earn 14% less than the U.S. average ($129,980). At the median the gap is -13% against the U.S. median of $125,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $112,200 | $108,570 | $72,650 | $162,770 | 30 |
| 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 Memphis
On the average salary of $112,200, a single filer in Memphis takes home about $87,763 a year, or $7,314 a month and $3,375 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $87,763 | $7,314 |
| Working in MS | $84,007 | $7,001 |
| Working in AR | $83,812 | $6,984 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Memphis a good place for chemical engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Memphis area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $112,200 buys what about $121,720 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Memphis ($46,890). A typical home costs $247,229, or 2.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Chemical Engineers salary in nearby metro areas
- Little Rock, AR$103,500
- Decatur, AL$126,170
- Huntsville, AL$108,850
- Evansville, IN$128,250
- St. Louis, MO$141,730
- Mobile, AL$128,970
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 Memphis: questions
How much do chemical engineers make an hour in Memphis?
$53.94 an hour on average, and $52.20 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chemical engineers salary in Memphis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $72,650 a year and the 25th percentile is $79,690, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chemical engineers take-home pay in Memphis?
About $87,763 a year ($7,314 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $112,200. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do chemical engineers earn more in Memphis than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% less 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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR (32820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.4%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.41, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.41).
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