The average salary for a chemist in Illinois is around $85,230 per year.
Avg Salary
Chemists earn an average yearly salary of $85,230.
Wages typically start from $60,740 and go up to $141,310.
36% above national average Updated in 2025
Chemist earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level chemist earnings begin at:
$67.94 per hour
$141,310 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level chemist earnings begin at:
$59.28 per hour
$123,290 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level chemist earnings begin at:
$40.98 per hour
$85,230 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level chemist earnings begin at:
$34.21 per hour
$71,160 per year
10th percentile
Starting level chemist earnings begin at:
$29.20 per hour
$60,740 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Chemist salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Texas | $99,640 |
| Minnesota | $99,280 |
| Connecticut | $98,140 |
| California | $97,860 |
| Alabama | $97,830 |
| Michigan | $97,440 |
| Washington | $97,420 |
| North Dakota | $97,330 |
| Virginia | $96,650 |
| Georgia | $92,750 |
| New York | $90,600 |
| Tennessee | $87,930 |
| Vermont | $86,120 |
| Iowa | $86,100 |
| West Virginia | $85,560 |
| Ohio | $85,270 |
| Illinois | $85,230 |
| New Jersey | $84,450 |
| Hawaii | $84,150 |
| Kentucky | $84,090 |
| Kansas | $82,820 |
| Missouri | $82,800 |
| Florida | $82,740 |
| North Carolina | $82,620 |
| Arizona | $81,730 |
| Nevada | $81,170 |
| Utah | $80,770 |
| Mississippi | $80,060 |
| South Carolina | $79,670 |
| Indiana | $78,770 |
| Wisconsin | $78,730 |
| Idaho | $78,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,090 |
| Arkansas | $75,570 |
| Oklahoma | $74,960 |
| Nebraska | $74,890 |
| South Dakota | $67,440 |
| Maine | $64,440 |
| Montana | $61,890 |
| Puerto Rico | $61,430 |
| District of Columbia | $149,860 |
| Maryland | $140,670 |
| Delaware | $129,860 |
| New Mexico | $126,960 |
| Massachusetts | $125,000 |
| Alaska | $106,010 |
| Oregon | $104,590 |
| Louisiana | $103,890 |
| Wyoming | $102,000 |
| Colorado | $101,980 |
| Rhode Island | $101,660 |
| New Hampshire | $100,050 |
How do chemist salaries compare to similar careers?
Chemists earn about the same as related careers in Illinois. On average, they make less than materials scientists but more than cartographers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Materials scientist salary | $126K |
| Statistician salary | $120K |
| Occupational health specialist salary | $98K |
| Chemist salary | $85K |
| Climate change analyst salary | $82K |
| Cartographer salary | $55K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)