Chemists pay range in Denver
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,120 a year or less, while the top 10% make $171,250 or more. The middle half of chemists in Denver earn between $80,180 and $133,600.
- $64K10th
- $80K25th
- $102KMedian
- $134K75th
- $171K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $110,740 | $9,228 | $53.24 |
| Median | $102,390 | $8,532 | $49.23 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $80,180 | $6,682 | $38.55 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $133,600 | $11,133 | $64.23 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chemists pay in Denver vs. Colorado and the U.S.
Chemists in Denver earn 4% more than the Colorado average ($106,480) and 10% more than the U.S. average ($100,450). At the median the gap is +12% against the U.S. median of $91,240.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | $110,740 | $102,390 | $64,120 | $171,250 | 820 |
| Colorado | $106,480 | $101,980 | $61,260 | $162,680 | 1,790 |
| 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 Denver
On the average salary of $110,740, a single filer in Denver takes home about $82,571 a year, or $6,881 a month and $3,176 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Is Denver a good place for chemists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Denver area are 6% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.8), so the average $110,740 buys what about $104,687 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Denver ($62,320). A typical home costs $573,221, or 5.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Chemists salary in other Colorado cities
Denver ranks 1st of 5 Colorado metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Denver$110,740
- Boulder$109,180
- Greeley$100,860
- Fort Collins$98,220
- Colorado Springs$94,940
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 Denver: questions
How much do chemists make an hour in Denver?
$53.24 an hour on average, and $49.23 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chemists salary in Denver?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,120 a year and the 25th percentile is $80,180, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chemists take-home pay in Denver?
About $82,571 a year ($6,881 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $110,740. Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Do chemists earn more in Denver than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% 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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO (19740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.2%.
- 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). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.96, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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