Chemists pay range in Memphis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,310 a year or less, while the top 10% make $130,380 or more. The middle half of chemists in Memphis earn between $59,940 and $111,610.
- $46K10th
- $60K25th
- $77KMedian
- $112K75th
- $130K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $84,480 | $7,040 | $40.62 |
| Median | $76,980 | $6,415 | $37.01 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $59,940 | $4,995 | $28.82 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $111,610 | $9,301 | $53.66 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chemists pay in Memphis vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Chemists in Memphis earn 4% less than the Tennessee average ($88,400) and 16% less than the U.S. average ($100,450). At the median the gap is -16% against the U.S. median of $91,240.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $84,480 | $76,980 | $46,310 | $130,380 | 120 |
| Tennessee | $88,400 | $87,930 | $48,530 | $132,630 | 960 |
| 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 Memphis
On the average salary of $84,480, a single filer in Memphis takes home about $68,262 a year, or $5,688 a month and $2,625 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% 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 | $68,262 | $5,688 |
| Working in AR | $65,624 | $5,469 |
| Working in MS | $65,614 | $5,468 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Memphis a good place for chemists? 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 $84,480 buys what about $91,648 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Memphis ($46,890). A typical home costs $247,229, or 2.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Chemists salary in other Tennessee cities
Memphis ranks 3rd of 4 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Chattanooga pays the most ($100,300).
- Chattanooga$100,300
- Knoxville$97,840
- Memphis$84,480
- Nashville$60,870
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 Memphis: questions
How much do chemists make an hour in Memphis?
$40.61 an hour on average, and $37.01 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chemists salary in Memphis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,310 a year and the 25th percentile is $59,940, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chemists take-home pay in Memphis?
About $68,262 a year ($5,688 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $84,480. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do chemists earn more in Memphis than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% 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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR (32820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.0%.
- 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 0.38, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.38).
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