Chemist salary in Pittsburgh, PA
Based on 30 certified H-1B filings in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Hampton Twp., Cheswick, West Mifflin, Hampton Twp, Monroeville.
Also listed as: Quality Control Chemist, Analytical Chemist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $61,000 |
| 25th | $61,002 |
| 50th (median) | $96,250 |
| 75th | $105,004 |
| 90th | $116,942 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2021 | $96,932 | $90,000 | $105,000 | 13 |
| FY2022 | $94,515 | $80,000 | $102,051 | 10 |
| FY2023 | – | – | – | 5 |
| FY2024 | $74,968 | $61,997 | $110,987 | 12 |
| FY2025 | $95,000 | $61,000 | $110,186 | 15 |
| FY2026 | $97,500 | $62,728 | $105,003 | 15 |
Cost of living
Pittsburgh's median Chemist salary of $96,250 is worth about $101,700 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Pittsburgh = 94.7).
Compared with all workers here
All Chemists in the Pittsburgh, PA area earned a median of $74,200 in May 2025 (980 employed). The H-1B median here is $96,250, 30% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| PPG Industries | $104,802 | 14 |
| Carnegie Mellon University | too few | 7 |
| Braskem America | too few | 2 |
| Polyonics Rubber Enterprises | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $61,000 | 11 |
| Mid-level · Level II | too few | 2 |
| Senior · Level III | too few | 2 |
| Expert · Level IV | $105,006 | 11 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $51,355 | $61,000 | 11 |
| Expert · Level IV | $82,056 | $105,006 | 11 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.