Chemists pay range in Decatur
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $69,570 a year or less, while the top 10% make $152,590 or more. The middle half of chemists in Decatur earn between $95,520 and $138,910.
- $70K10th
- $96K25th
- $109KMedian
- $139K75th
- $153K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $114,740 | $9,562 | $55.16 |
| Median | $109,110 | $9,092 | $52.46 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $95,520 | $7,960 | $45.92 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $138,910 | $11,576 | $66.78 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chemists pay in Decatur vs. Alabama and the U.S.
Chemists in Decatur earn 13% more than the Alabama average ($101,710) and 14% more than the U.S. average ($100,450). At the median the gap is +20% against the U.S. median of $91,240.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur | $114,740 | $109,110 | $69,570 | $152,590 | 60 |
| Alabama | $101,710 | $97,830 | $61,050 | $150,410 | 700 |
| United States | $100,450 | $91,240 | $58,460 | $160,830 | 82,770 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chemists salary after taxes in Decatur
On the average salary of $114,740, a single filer in Decatur takes home about $84,873 a year, or $7,073 a month and $3,264 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Is Decatur a good place for chemists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Decatur area are 13% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.2), so the average $114,740 buys what about $131,564 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Decatur ($46,280). A typical home costs $232,614, or 2.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Chemists salary in other Alabama cities
Decatur ranks 1st of 6 Alabama metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Decatur$114,740
- Huntsville$112,300
- Birmingham$101,050
- Mobile$98,040
- Montgomery$89,410
- Auburn$83,990
Highest-paying cities for chemists
Washington, DC pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($144,550).
- Washington, DC$144,550
- Bay City, MI$139,910
- Lexington Park, MD$132,480
- San Francisco, CA$130,870
- Boston, MA$130,520
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Chemists salary in Decatur: questions
How much do chemists make an hour in Decatur?
$55.16 an hour on average, and $52.46 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chemists salary in Decatur?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $69,570 a year and the 25th percentile is $95,520, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chemists take-home pay in Decatur?
About $84,873 a year ($7,073 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $114,740. City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Do chemists earn more in Decatur than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% more than the U.S. average for this job ($100,450).
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 19-2031; area Decatur, AL (19460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- 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 (2026 rules). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.78, this job is 1.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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