Median Salary
$91,240
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$43.87
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$160,830
entry level starts ~$58,460
Pay Grade
B+
strong pay · 83,000 employed
How much does a Chemist make?
The median pay for a Chemist in the United States is $91,240 per year — about $43.87 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $58,460, while the most experienced Chemists in the top 10% earn $160,830.
That is $29,850 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Chemist salary range by percentile
Half of all Chemists earn between $69,460 and $125,550 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $58,460 | $28.11 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $69,460 | $33.39 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $91,240 | $43.87 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $125,550 | $60.36 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $160,830 | $77.32 |
|
Highest-paying states for Chemist
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. District of Columbia leads the country for Chemist pay at $149,860 a year, followed by Maryland ($140,670) and Delaware ($129,860). At the other end, Montana posts the lowest median at $61,890 — a gap of $87,970 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Chemist salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 51 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
District of Columbia $149,860Maryland $140,670Delaware $129,860New Mexico $126,960Massachusetts $125,000Alaska $106,010Oregon $104,590Louisiana $103,890Wyoming $102,000Colorado $101,980Rhode Island $101,660New Hampshire $100,050Texas $99,640Minnesota $99,280Connecticut $98,140California $97,860Alabama $97,830Michigan $97,440Washington $97,420North Dakota $97,330Virginia $96,650Georgia $92,750New York $90,600Tennessee $87,930Vermont $86,120Iowa $86,100West Virginia $85,560Ohio $85,270Illinois $85,230New Jersey $84,450Hawaii $84,150Kentucky $84,090Kansas $82,820Missouri $82,800Florida $82,740North Carolina $82,620Arizona $81,730Nevada $81,170Utah $80,770Mississippi $80,060South Carolina $79,670Indiana $78,770Wisconsin $78,730Idaho $78,000Pennsylvania $77,090Arkansas $75,570Oklahoma $74,960Nebraska $74,890South Dakota $67,440Maine $64,440Montana $61,890
Workforce and education
About 83,000 people work as Chemists in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $100,450 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Chemist make in the United States?
The median Chemist salary in the United States is $91,240 per year, or about $43.87 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $58,460, while the top 10% of earners make $160,830 or more.
How does Chemist pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B+ (strong pay), the Chemist median of $91,240 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Chemists the most?
District of Columbia is the highest-paying state for Chemists, with a median salary of $149,860 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Chemist?
Becoming a Chemist typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Chemists work in the United States?
About 83,000 people were employed as Chemists in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.