Chemists pay range in Portland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $50,640 a year or less, while the top 10% make $120,430 or more. The middle half of chemists in Portland earn between $53,800 and $96,530.
- $51K10th
- $54K25th
- $64KMedian
- $97K75th
- $120K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $77,560 | $6,463 | $37.29 |
| Median | $64,320 | $5,360 | $30.92 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $53,800 | $4,483 | $25.87 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $96,530 | $8,044 | $46.41 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chemists pay in Portland vs. Maine and the U.S.
Chemists in Portland earn 10% more than the Maine average ($70,750) and 23% less than the U.S. average ($100,450). At the median the gap is -30% against the U.S. median of $91,240.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $77,560 | $64,320 | $50,640 | $120,430 | 60 |
| Maine | $70,750 | $64,440 | $50,640 | $100,360 | 140 |
| 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 Portland
On the average salary of $77,560, a single filer in Portland takes home about $59,836 a year, or $4,986 a month and $2,301 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Maine's standard deduction phase-out above $102,250 of income is not modelled.
Is Portland a good place for chemists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Portland area are 2% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.9), so the average $77,560 buys what about $76,145 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Portland ($56,960). A typical home costs $542,063, or 7.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Chemists salary in nearby metro areas
- Manchester, NH$102,020
- Boston, MA$130,520
- Worcester, MA$110,690
- Providence, RI$107,140
- Burlington, VT$91,510
- Norwich, CT$116,490
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 Portland: questions
How much do chemists make an hour in Portland?
$37.29 an hour on average, and $30.93 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chemists salary in Portland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $50,640 a year and the 25th percentile is $53,800, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chemists take-home pay in Portland?
About $59,836 a year ($4,986 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $77,560. Maine's standard deduction phase-out above $102,250 of income is not modelled.
Do chemists earn more in Portland than elsewhere?
The average here is 23% less 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 Portland-South Portland, ME (38860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.1%.
- 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). Maine's standard deduction phase-out above $102,250 of income is not modelled.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.38, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.38).
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