The average salary for a chemist in the United States is around $46,619 per year.
Avg Salary
Chemists earn an average yearly salary of $46,619.
Wages typically start from $29,151 and go up to $74,555.
25% below national average Updated in 2023
Chemist earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level chemist earnings begin at:
$35.84 per hour
$74,555 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level chemist earnings begin at:
$28.70 per hour
$59,688 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level chemist earnings begin at:
$22.41 per hour
$46,619 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level chemist earnings begin at:
$17.51 per hour
$36,412 per year
10th percentile
Starting level chemist earnings begin at:
$14.01 per hour
$29,151 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Chemist salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Michigan | $98,290 |
| Connecticut | $96,730 |
| Alaska | $96,120 |
| New Jersey | $95,270 |
| Rhode Island | $94,560 |
| Colorado | $91,250 |
| Georgia | $89,790 |
| Virginia | $86,520 |
| Washington | $84,380 |
| Hawaii | $79,440 |
| Minnesota | $79,430 |
| New York | $79,430 |
| New Mexico | $79,000 |
| Missouri | $78,990 |
| Montana | $78,990 |
| Kentucky | $78,980 |
| California | $78,920 |
| Arizona | $78,340 |
| Nevada | $78,340 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,340 |
| Alabama | $77,680 |
| North Dakota | $77,450 |
| Texas | $77,450 |
| Iowa | $77,360 |
| Louisiana | $76,890 |
| Ohio | $75,830 |
| North Carolina | $74,230 |
| Kansas | $74,180 |
| Wisconsin | $73,770 |
| Mississippi | $71,110 |
| Nebraska | $68,820 |
| Oregon | $68,700 |
| Vermont | $68,540 |
| West Virginia | $68,060 |
| Utah | $66,440 |
| Tennessee | $65,860 |
| Oklahoma | $65,150 |
| Illinois | $64,750 |
| Arkansas | $64,650 |
| Wyoming | $64,430 |
| Indiana | $64,280 |
| Maine | $62,550 |
| Florida | $62,110 |
| Idaho | $62,110 |
| South Carolina | $62,110 |
| Puerto Rico | $61,430 |
| South Dakota | $60,320 |
| District of Columbia | $131,330 |
| Maryland | $120,950 |
| Delaware | $104,940 |
| New Hampshire | $101,560 |
| Massachusetts | $100,320 |
How do chemist salaries compare to similar careers?
Chemists earn 41% less than similar careers in the United States. On average, they make less than statisticians.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Statistician salary | $101K |
| Atmospheric scientist salary | $90K |
| Materials scientist salary | $91K |
| Climate change analyst salary | $73K |
| Cartographer salary | $63K |
| Chemist salary | $47K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)