Chemists Pay Range in Virginia
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$52,870
- 25th Percentile — Junior$65,980
- 50th Percentile — Median$96,650
- 75th Percentile — Senior$136,660
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$166,230
Half of Chemists in Virginia earn more than $96,650. The top 10% make $166,230 or more, while entry-level workers start around $52,870.
Chemists in Virginia: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Virginia ranks 14th of 51 states for Chemists pay, at $104,120 per year (3.7% above the U.S. average of $100,450).
- 1,640 people work as Chemists in Virginia — 2.0% of all U.S. Chemists jobs.
- Location quotient 0.75: Chemists jobs are less concentrated in Virginia than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $52,870; the top 10% earn over $166,230.
- Hourly equivalent: $50.06 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $148,840.
- Among science jobs in Virginia, Physicists pays the most ($159,320).
Chemists Job Market in Virginia
Key factors affecting compensation
Virginia's key industries are Government, Technology, Defense, and its job market is rated very strong. Chemists here earn $104,120 on average, placing the state 14th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.1 (U.S. = 1.00), a Virginia salary of $104,120 is roughly equivalent to $94,655 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Colorado ($106,480), Rhode Island ($106,450), Alaska ($104,520) are the closest alternatives for Chemists weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Science Jobs in Virginia
Related career salary benchmarks
- Physicists $159,320/yr Virginia +53.0% vs this role
- Economists $144,880/yr Virginia +39.1% vs this role
- Medical Scientists $127,300/yr Virginia +22.3% vs this role
- Biochemists and Biophysicists $126,950/yr Virginia +21.9% vs this role
- Materials Scientists $124,880/yr Virginia +19.9% vs this role
- Hydrologists $119,240/yr Virginia +14.5% vs this role
- Atmospheric and Space Scientists $111,970/yr Virginia +7.5% vs this role
- Geoscientists $105,120/yr Virginia +1.0% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Chemists salary in Virginia?
The average Chemists salary in Virginia is $104,120 per year (median $96,650), which is 3.7% above the national average of $100,450.
How does Virginia rank for Chemists pay?
Virginia ranks 14th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($148,840/yr).
How much do entry-level Chemists make in Virginia?
The lowest-paid 10% of Chemists in Virginia earn about $52,870 per year and the 25th percentile is $65,980.
How much do Chemists make per hour in Virginia?
About $50.06 per hour, based on the $104,120 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Chemists work in Virginia?
BLS counts 1,640 Chemists jobs in Virginia (OEWS May 2025).
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