Chemist Salary
Chemists earn a median $91,240 a year nationally. Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
U.S. median
$91,240
$43.87 per hour
Range
$58,460 – $160,830
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
82,770
across the U.S.
▲8.4%
Pay trend: The median for chemists in the U.S. rose from $84,150 (May 2024) to $91,240 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 6.0%.
What chemists do
Conduct qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses or experiments in laboratories for quality or process control or to develop new products or knowledge.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +6.4% (faster than average)
- Openings per year
- 5,900
Employment of chemists is projected to grow 6.4% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 5,900 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Chemist take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$73,017
per year · effective tax rate 20.0%
$6,085Monthly
$3,042Twice a month
$2,808Every 2 weeks
$35.10Hourly
- Federal income tax$11,243
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,657
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,323
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$73,017
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $58,460 | $28.11 | $49,153 |
| 25th percentile | $69,460 | $33.39 | $57,695 |
| Median (50th) | $91,240 | $43.87 | $73,017 |
| 75th percentile | $125,550 | $60.36 | $97,079 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $160,830 | $77.32 | $121,193 |
Best cities for chemists (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $144,680 | $100,825 | $92,599 | 2,490 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $127,290 | $92,124 | $85,091 | 2,960 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $106,740 | $83,922 | $85,088 | 2,430 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $95,440 | $73,042 | $71,223 | 4,520 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $90,920 | $68,436 | $66,062 | 2,630 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $85,150 | $64,732 | $57,507 | 6,750 |
| 7 | Los Angeles, CA | $87,060 | $65,078 | $57,304 | 3,190 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Washington, DC — $144,680
- Boston, MA — $127,290
- Houston, TX — $106,740
- Philadelphia, PA — $95,440
- Chicago, IL — $90,920
- Los Angeles, CA — $87,060
- New York, NY — $85,150
Chemist salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $149,860 | −2.3% | $103,926 | $101,400 – $195,190 | 280 |
| Maryland | $140,670 | +6.6% | $100,988 | $75,430 – $195,190 | 2,480 |
| Delaware | $129,860 | +3.5% | $92,796 | $80,500 – $170,290 | 1,200 |
| New Mexico | $126,960 | −5.5% | $93,153 | $59,490 – $212,940 | 280 |
| Massachusetts | $125,000 | −1.6% | $90,674 | $71,120 – $212,210 | 3,430 |
| Alaska | $106,010 | +11.2% | $83,408 | $61,840 – $140,800 | 60 |
| Oregon | $104,590 | +24.3% | $74,087 | $70,320 – $157,700 | 730 |
| Louisiana | $103,890 | −4.8% | $79,186 | $58,310 – $168,460 | 740 |
| Wyoming | $102,000 | +33.2% | $80,587 | $52,150 – $127,120 | 80 |
| Colorado | $101,980 | +4.7% | $76,794 | $61,260 – $162,680 | 1,790 |
| Rhode Island | $101,660 | +4.5% | $77,121 | $70,210 – $146,830 | 150 |
| New Hampshire | $100,050 | +22.3% | $79,215 | $58,260 – $133,960 | 300 |
| Texas | $99,640 | −1.6% | $78,927 | $58,850 – $170,250 | 5,130 |
| Minnesota | $99,280 | +21.0% | $73,446 | $60,010 – $158,540 | 1,680 |
| Connecticut | $98,140 | +11.1% | $74,049 | $65,230 – $144,740 | 1,170 |
| California | $97,860 | +0.9% | $71,531 | $60,930 – $164,150 | 9,820 |
| Alabama | $97,830 | +1.9% | $73,027 | $61,050 – $150,410 | 700 |
| Michigan | $97,440 | +19.7% | $73,489 | $56,260 – $164,200 | 3,490 |
| Washington | $97,420 | +4.9% | $77,365 | $62,690 – $165,090 | 2,280 |
| North Dakota | $97,330 | +22.7% | $76,663 | $52,050 – $132,330 | 160 |
| Virginia | $96,650 | −3.2% | $72,080 | $52,870 – $166,230 | 1,640 |
| Georgia | $92,750 | −2.3% | $69,889 | $56,760 – $144,870 | 1,260 |
| New York | $90,600 | +8.3% | $68,262 | $61,100 – $155,190 | 4,230 |
| Tennessee | $87,930 | +34.6% | $70,689 | $48,530 – $132,630 | 960 |
| Vermont | $86,120 | +5.7% | $66,192 | $68,640 – $128,420 | 80 |
| Iowa | $86,100 | +5.2% | $66,781 | $65,270 – $137,560 | 570 |
| West Virginia | $85,560 | −20.8% | $65,832 | $59,600 – $132,380 | 180 |
| Ohio | $85,270 | +6.1% | $67,255 | $59,010 – $134,820 | 4,010 |
| Illinois | $85,230 | −12.3% | $64,715 | $60,740 – $141,310 | 3,040 |
| New Jersey | $84,450 | −0.7% | $65,051 | $60,910 – $144,030 | 5,280 |
| Hawaii | $84,150 | +1.1% | $63,164 | $63,080 – $126,070 | 140 |
| Kentucky | $84,090 | +5.4% | $65,162 | $54,950 – $126,060 | 530 |
| Kansas | $82,820 | +24.9% | $63,272 | $53,360 – $132,460 | 690 |
| Missouri | $82,800 | +1.3% | $64,126 | $48,240 – $134,940 | 1,640 |
| Florida | $82,740 | +10.5% | $67,038 | $50,200 – $150,840 | 1,490 |
| North Carolina | $82,620 | +5.4% | $64,165 | $58,170 – $132,020 | 4,530 |
| Arizona | $81,730 | +3.0% | $64,493 | $53,520 – $135,940 | 870 |
| Nevada | $81,170 | +11.5% | $65,933 | $49,220 – $130,800 | 280 |
| Utah | $80,770 | +4.5% | $62,983 | $54,350 – $129,990 | 910 |
| Mississippi | $80,060 | +2.3% | $62,682 | $52,060 – $130,560 | 200 |
| South Carolina | $79,670 | +2.3% | $61,255 | $54,420 – $139,570 | 770 |
| Indiana | $78,770 | +3.8% | $61,950 | $56,960 – $133,140 | 2,480 |
| Wisconsin | $78,730 | +4.9% | $61,424 | $52,020 – $109,450 | 1,920 |
| Idaho | $78,000 | +31.2% | $60,677 | $37,230 – $134,850 | 320 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,090 | +21.5% | $60,696 | $49,800 – $144,860 | 6,800 |
| Arkansas | $75,570 | +6.3% | $59,259 | $46,600 – $131,620 | 380 |
| Oklahoma | $74,960 | −6.3% | $58,737 | $48,520 – $112,920 | 630 |
| Nebraska | $74,890 | +10.3% | $58,987 | $62,280 – $128,510 | 350 |
| South Dakota | $67,440 | +4.6% | $56,274 | $51,270 – $101,030 | 170 |
| Maine | $64,440 | +9.7% | $50,790 | $50,640 – $100,360 | 140 |
| Montana | $61,890 | +3.0% | $49,756 | $44,260 – $115,390 | 300 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Materials Scientist | $117,790 | Bachelor's degree | +8.3% |
| Hydrologist | $96,600 | Bachelor's degree | +1.5% |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientist | $99,070 | Bachelor's degree | +2.6% |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $82,220 | Bachelor's degree | +6.1% |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $101,920 | Bachelor's degree | +5.1% |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $122,570 | Bachelor's degree | +2.1% |
| Astronomer | $128,820 | Doctoral or professional degree | +7.8% |
| Physicist | $172,250 | Doctoral or professional degree | +7.2% |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialist | $90,150 | Bachelor's degree | +18.5% |
| Urban and Regional Planner | $89,320 | Master's degree | +3.9% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chemist make?
The national median salary for chemists is $91,240 a year ($43.87 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $58,460 and the top 10% earn over $160,830. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays chemists the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median pay at $149,860. After taxes and local prices, Washington, DC offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many chemists are there in the U.S.?
About 82,770 people work as chemists nationwide.