Chemists Salary
The median chemists salary in the United States is $91,240 per year ($43.87/hour). Salaries range from $58,460 at the entry level to $160,830+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 82,770 chemists jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 4.9% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$91,240
per year
Hourly Rate
$43.87
per hour
Employment
82,770
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$58,460
25th percentile
$69,460
Median
$91,240
75th percentile
$125,550
90th percentile
$160,830
Job Growth (2024-2034)
+4.9%
As fast as average
Annual Openings
6,300
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
Bachelor's degree
Chemists Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$62K$150K■ No data
Top Paying States
District of Columbia
$150K
+64%
Maryland
$141K
+54%
Delaware
$130K
+42%
New Mexico
$127K
+39%
Massachusetts
$125K
+37%
Alaska
$106K
+16%
Oregon
$105K
+15%
Louisiana
$104K
+14%
Wyoming
$102K
+12%
Colorado
$102K
+12%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $149,860 | +64.2% |
| Maryland | $140,670 | +54.2% |
| Delaware | $129,860 | +42.3% |
| New Mexico | $126,960 | +39.1% |
| Massachusetts | $125,000 | +37.0% |
| Alaska | $106,010 | +16.2% |
| Oregon | $104,590 | +14.6% |
| Louisiana | $103,890 | +13.9% |
| Wyoming | $102,000 | +11.8% |
| Colorado | $101,980 | +11.8% |
Showing 1–10 of 51
Chemists Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $144,680 | +58.6% |
| Bay City, MI | $132,480 | +45.2% |
| Midland, TX | $131,860 | +44.5% |
| Lexington Park, MD | $131,810 | +44.5% |
| Lake Charles, LA | $128,330 | +40.7% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $127,790 | +40.1% |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $127,290 | +39.5% |
| Albuquerque, NM | $126,960 | +39.1% |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $123,840 | +35.7% |
| Spartanburg, SC | $122,350 | +34.1% |
Showing 1–10 of 213
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A chemists earning $91,240/year would need 653 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 701 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how chemists salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Chemists salary trend (2011–2024) →