Entry-level Chemist salary in Pittsburgh, PA
Based on 11 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I 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 | $61,000 |
| 50th (median) | $61,000 |
| 75th | $62,728 |
| 90th | $97,698 |
Cost of living
Pittsburgh's median entry-level Chemist salary of $61,000 is worth about $64,400 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 $61,000, 18% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Carnegie Mellon University | too few | 7 |
| PPG Industries | 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.