How much does a Chemists make?

The median annual wage for Chemists is $91,240 ($44 per hour). Pay ranges from about $58,460 at the 10th percentile to $160,830 at the 90th percentile.

What is the average salary for a Chemists?

The average (mean) annual salary is $100,450, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.

Which state pays Chemistss the most?

District of Columbia has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $149,860.

Is Chemists a growing occupation?

BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 83K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.

What does a Chemists do?

Develop, improve, or customize products, equipment, formulas, processes, or analytical methods.; Prepare test solutions, compounds, or reagents for laboratory personnel to conduct tests.; Compile and analyze test information to determine process or equipment operating efficiency or to diagnose malfunctions..

Chemists Salary

Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · 83K employed in the U.S.

Median annual

$91,240

Median hourly

$44

Average annual

$100,450

Typical range

$58,460–$160,830

Pay distribution

10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.

10th$58,460

25th$69,460

Median$91,240

75th$125,550

90th$160,830

What this role pays

The median annual salary for Chemists is $91,240 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $44 an hour at a full-time schedule.

Conduct qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses or experiments in laboratories for quality or process control or to develop new products or knowledge..

Most earn between $58,460 and $160,830 a year. There are roughly 83K people employed as chemists in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.

Salary calculator

Convert your pay and see where it lands for Chemists.

Pay amountPay period

Hours / weekWeeks / year

Hourly: $43.87
Daily: $351
Weekly: $1,755
Bi-weekly: $3,509
Monthly: $7,603
Annual: $91,240

$91,240 a year is around the 50th percentile for Chemistss. The median is $91,240.

Chemists — U.S., May 2025
Percentile	Hourly	Annual
10th percentile	$28.10	$58,460
25th percentile	$33.40	$69,460
Median	$43.90	$91,240
75th percentile	$60.40	$125,550
90th percentile	$77.30	$160,830
Average (mean)	$48.30	$100,450
Employment	82,770 people

Key skills

Science
Reading Comprehension
Critical Thinking
Speaking
Active Listening
Writing
Mathematics
Active Learning
Complex Problem Solving
Monitoring

Highest-paying states

Median annual wage by state.

1District of Columbia$149,860
2Maryland$140,670
3Delaware$129,860
4New Mexico$126,960
5Massachusetts$125,000
6Alaska$106,010
7Oregon$104,590
8Louisiana$103,890
9Wyoming$102,000
10Colorado$101,980
11Rhode Island$101,660
12New Hampshire$100,050

Top-paying metro areas

Median annual wage by metro area.

1Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$144,680
2Bay City, MI$132,480
3Midland, TX$131,860
4Lexington Park, MD$131,810
5Lake Charles, LA$128,330
6San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$127,790
7Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$127,290
8Albuquerque, NM$126,960
9Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL$123,840
10Spartanburg, SC$122,350
11Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT$121,770
12Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD$118,880

Related job titles

Employers advertise Chemists roles under these titles.

Related occupations

What a Chemists does

Develop, improve, or customize products, equipment, formulas, processes, or analytical methods.
Prepare test solutions, compounds, or reagents for laboratory personnel to conduct tests.
Compile and analyze test information to determine process or equipment operating efficiency or to diagnose malfunctions.
Confer with scientists or engineers to conduct analyses of research projects, interpret test results, or develop nonstandard tests.
Evaluate laboratory safety procedures to ensure compliance with standards or to make improvements as needed.
Analyze organic or inorganic compounds to determine chemical or physical properties, composition, structure, relationships, or reactions, using chromatography, spectroscopy, or spectrophotometry techniques.
Induce changes in composition of substances by introducing heat, light, energy, or chemical catalysts for quantitative or qualitative analysis.
Conduct quality control tests.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Chemists make?: The median annual wage for Chemists is $91,240 ($44 per hour). Pay ranges from about $58,460 at the 10th percentile to $160,830 at the 90th percentile.
What is the average salary for a Chemists?: The average (mean) annual salary is $100,450, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
Which state pays Chemistss the most?: District of Columbia has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $149,860.
Is Chemists a growing occupation?: BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 83K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
What does a Chemists do?: Develop, improve, or customize products, equipment, formulas, processes, or analytical methods.; Prepare test solutions, compounds, or reagents for laboratory personnel to conduct tests.; Compile and analyze test information to determine process or equipment operating efficiency or to diagnose malfunctions..