Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$58,460
- 25th Percentile — Junior$69,460
- 50th Percentile — Median$91,240
- 75th Percentile — Senior$125,550
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$160,830
The top 10% of Chemists earn $160,830 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $58,460, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $148,840 | +48.2% |
| Maryland | $139,100 | +38.5% |
| Massachusetts | $128,930 | +28.4% |
| New Mexico | $128,630 | +28.1% |
| Delaware | $122,170 | +21.6% |
| Oregon | $111,320 | +10.8% |
| Texas | $106,830 | +6.4% |
| California | $106,810 | +6.3% |
| Louisiana | $106,810 | +6.3% |
| Colorado | $106,480 | +6.0% |
| Rhode Island | $106,450 | +6.0% |
| Alaska | $104,520 | +4.1% |
| Washington | $104,480 | +4.0% |
| Virginia | $104,120 | +3.7% |
| Connecticut | $104,030 | +3.6% |
| Minnesota | $102,390 | +1.9% |
| Alabama | $101,710 | +1.3% |
| Michigan | $101,210 | +0.8% |
| New York | $100,920 | +0.5% |
| New Hampshire | $99,570 | -0.9% |
| Wyoming | $99,310 | -1.1% |
| Illinois | $98,420 | -2.0% |
| New Jersey | $96,980 | -3.5% |
| Georgia | $96,910 | -3.5% |
| North Dakota | $94,470 | -6.0% |
| Ohio | $94,470 | -6.0% |
| Iowa | $94,080 | -6.3% |
| Vermont | $92,730 | -7.7% |
| West Virginia | $92,500 | -7.9% |
| Arizona | $92,120 | -8.3% |
| Missouri | $92,000 | -8.4% |
| Florida | $91,600 | -8.8% |
| North Carolina | $90,800 | -9.6% |
| South Carolina | $90,130 | -10.3% |
| Hawaii | $90,030 | -10.4% |
| Tennessee | $88,400 | -12.0% |
| Kansas | $88,190 | -12.2% |
| Indiana | $88,080 | -12.3% |
| Pennsylvania | $87,990 | -12.4% |
| Mississippi | $87,580 | -12.8% |
| Arkansas | $86,800 | -13.6% |
| Kentucky | $86,740 | -13.6% |
| Nevada | $86,700 | -13.7% |
| Idaho | $86,120 | -14.3% |
| Utah | $85,710 | -14.7% |
| Nebraska | $84,560 | -15.8% |
| Wisconsin | $82,560 | -17.8% |
| Oklahoma | $81,250 | -19.1% |
| South Dakota | $72,750 | -27.6% |
| Montana | $71,860 | -28.5% |
| Maine | $70,750 | -29.6% |
What Factors Affect Chemists Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Chemists is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: District of Columbia pays an average of $148,840, while Maine pays $70,750 — a gap of $78,090 per year.
The middle half of Chemists earn between $69,460 and $125,550 per year. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $58,460, while the top 10% earn more than $160,830.
These figures are the wages employers report to BLS: base pay plus commissions, production bonuses and tips. They exclude overtime pay, shift differentials, year-end bonuses, benefits and self-employed workers, so total compensation can be higher than the numbers shown.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Chemists?
The average salary for Chemists in the United States is $100,450 per year, with a median of $91,240.
What is the starting salary for Chemists?
Entry-level Chemists typically earn between $58,460 and $69,460 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Chemists the most?
District of Columbia pays Chemists the most at $148,840 per year on average, followed by Maryland ($139,100) and Massachusetts ($128,930).
How much do Chemists make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $100,450, Chemists earn approximately $48.29 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Chemists a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 82,770 Chemists jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $100,450 and a median of $91,240 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
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