Chemists Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for chemists in the U.S. is $91,240 ($43.87 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $91,240
- Mean annual wage
- $100,450
- Median hourly wage
- $43.87
- Employment
- 82,770
82,770 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $58,460 | $28.11 |
| 25th percentile | $69,460 | $33.39 |
| Median (50th) | $91,240 | $43.87 |
| 75th percentile | $125,550 | $60.36 |
| 90th percentile | $160,830 | $77.32 |
Highest-paying states for chemists
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $149,860 | 280 |
| Maryland | $140,670 | 2,480 |
| Delaware | $129,860 | 1,200 |
| New Mexico | $126,960 | 280 |
| Massachusetts | $125,000 | 3,430 |
| Alaska | $106,010 | 60 |
| Oregon | $104,590 | 730 |
| Louisiana | $103,890 | 740 |
| Wyoming | $102,000 | 80 |
| Colorado | $101,980 | 1,790 |
Lowest-paying states
- Montana: $61,890 median annual wage
- Maine: $64,440 median annual wage
- South Dakota: $67,440 median annual wage
- Nebraska: $74,890 median annual wage
- Oklahoma: $74,960 median annual wage
About this occupation
Conduct qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses or experiments in laboratories for quality or process control or to develop new products or knowledge.
Typical tasks
- Develop, improve, or customize products, equipment, formulas, processes, or analytical methods.
- Write technical papers or reports or prepare standards and specifications for processes, facilities, products, or tests.
- Maintain laboratory instruments to ensure proper working order and troubleshoot malfunctions when needed.
- Evaluate laboratory safety procedures to ensure compliance with standards or to make improvements as needed.
- Confer with scientists or engineers to conduct analyses of research projects, interpret test results, or develop nonstandard tests.
- Analyze organic or inorganic compounds to determine chemical or physical properties, composition, structure, relationships, or reactions, using chromatography, spectroscopy, or spectrophotometry techniques.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: Bachelor's degree
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 1.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.7% |
| Some college, no degree | 3.2% |
| Associate's degree | 1.5% |
| Bachelor's degree | 51.3% |
| Master's degree | 19.3% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 20.5% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$103,410
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$90,150
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- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$100,580
- Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$62,280
- Biological Technicians$57,510
- School Psychologists$95,990
- Chemical Technicians$60,390
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.