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Best states for a chemist
Quoted expert
Dr. James Leahy Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for chemists in the United States. Chemist positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for chemists.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of chemists in America is $90,000.
In order to get you the best states for chemists, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.If you are currently seeking employment as a chemist, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for chemists in 2026
1. Delaware
Total chemist jobs: 72 Average annual salary: $91,070 Lowest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
2. Massachusetts
Total chemist jobs: 1,082 Average annual salary: $81,229 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location Quotient: 2.54
3. Washington
Total chemist jobs: 565 Average annual salary: $79,198 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location Quotient: 1.67
4. Rhode Island
Total chemist jobs: 51 Average annual salary: $78,435 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location Quotient: 0.9
5. Vermont
Total chemist jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $88,284 Lowest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location Quotient: 0.65
6. New Jersey
Total chemist jobs: 600 Average annual salary: $73,863 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location Quotient: 1.63
7. Connecticut
Total chemist jobs: 164 Average annual salary: $75,073 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
8. Maryland
Total chemist jobs: 512 Average annual salary: $75,227 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location Quotient: 1.74
9. Virginia
Total chemist jobs: 321 Average annual salary: $80,187 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location Quotient: 0.73
10. New Hampshire
Total chemist jobs: 93 Average annual salary: $68,658 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
Chemist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a chemist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a chemist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $91,070 | $63,000 | 961,939 | 72 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $81,229 | $58,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,082 |
| 3 | Washington | $79,198 | $51,000 | 7,405,743 | 565 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $78,435 | $56,000 | 1,059,639 | 51 |
| 5 | Vermont | $88,284 | $63,000 | 623,657 | 23 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $73,863 | $52,000 | 9,005,644 | 600 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $75,073 | $53,000 | 3,588,184 | 164 |
| 8 | Maryland | $75,227 | $52,000 | 6,052,177 | 512 |
| 9 | Virginia | $80,187 | $55,000 | 8,470,020 | 321 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $68,658 | $49,000 | 1,342,795 | 93 |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $82,730 | $57,000 | 693,972 | 51 |
| 12 | Tennessee | $66,318 | $45,000 | 6,715,984 | 163 |
| 13 | Ohio | $63,339 | $44,000 | 11,658,609 | 420 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $64,696 | $45,000 | 5,576,606 | 284 |
| 15 | New York | $64,304 | $45,000 | 19,849,399 | 794 |
| 16 | Michigan | $63,587 | $44,000 | 9,962,311 | 250 |
| 17 | Texas | $63,325 | $42,000 | 28,304,596 | 736 |
| 18 | New Mexico | $62,369 | $42,000 | 2,088,070 | 81 |
| 19 | West Virginia | $65,029 | $45,000 | 1,815,857 | 28 |
| 20 | Louisiana | $66,912 | $44,000 | 4,684,333 | 47 |
| 21 | Indiana | $60,355 | $42,000 | 6,666,818 | 270 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $59,463 | $41,000 | 5,795,483 | 299 |
| 23 | South Dakota | $62,697 | $44,000 | 869,666 | 27 |
| 24 | Iowa | $59,328 | $41,000 | 3,145,711 | 180 |
| 25 | California | $61,259 | $41,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,275 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $57,459 | $40,000 | 12,805,537 | 677 |
| 27 | Georgia | $62,103 | $42,000 | 10,429,379 | 260 |
| 28 | Kansas | $61,051 | $42,000 | 2,913,123 | 81 |
| 29 | Colorado | $63,262 | $44,000 | 5,607,154 | 142 |
| 30 | Maine | $58,554 | $42,000 | 1,335,907 | 46 |
| 31 | Alabama | $60,518 | $41,000 | 4,874,747 | 80 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $56,502 | $39,000 | 755,393 | 32 |
| 33 | Montana | $60,146 | $41,000 | 1,050,493 | 24 |
| 34 | Missouri | $54,417 | $38,000 | 6,113,532 | 265 |
| 35 | Illinois | $56,144 | $39,000 | 12,802,023 | 441 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $57,410 | $39,000 | 5,024,369 | 110 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $55,562 | $38,000 | 4,454,189 | 117 |
| 38 | Oregon | $53,897 | $35,000 | 4,142,776 | 191 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $57,025 | $38,000 | 2,984,100 | 25 |
| 40 | Alaska | $55,535 | $41,000 | 739,795 | 25 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $56,816 | $39,000 | 3,930,864 | 39 |
| 42 | Utah | $53,315 | $36,000 | 3,101,833 | 129 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $55,111 | $38,000 | 1,920,076 | 60 |
| 44 | Arizona | $56,049 | $38,000 | 7,016,270 | 141 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $60,722 | $47,000 | 1,427,538 | 11 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $50,569 | $34,000 | 10,273,419 | 398 |
| 47 | Nevada | $53,493 | $36,000 | 2,998,039 | 44 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $51,064 | $35,000 | 3,004,279 | 66 |
| 49 | Idaho | $49,979 | $33,000 | 1,716,943 | 48 |
| 50 | Florida | $44,587 | $29,000 | 20,984,400 | 408 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $45,178 | $31,000 | 579,315 | 15 |
Highest paying states for chemists
| Rank | State | Avg. Chemist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $91,070 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $81,229 |
| 3 | Washington | $79,198 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $78,435 |
| 5 | Vermont | $88,284 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $73,863 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $75,073 |
| 8 | Maryland | $75,227 |
| 9 | Virginia | $80,187 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $68,658 |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $82,730 |
| 12 | Tennessee | $66,318 |
| 13 | Ohio | $63,339 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $64,696 |
| 15 | New York | $64,304 |
| 16 | Michigan | $63,587 |
| 17 | Texas | $63,325 |
| 18 | New Mexico | $62,369 |
| 19 | West Virginia | $65,029 |
| 20 | Louisiana | $66,912 |
| 21 | Indiana | $60,355 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $59,463 |
| 23 | South Dakota | $62,697 |
| 24 | Iowa | $59,328 |
| 25 | California | $61,259 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $57,459 |
| 27 | Georgia | $62,103 |
| 28 | Kansas | $61,051 |
| 29 | Colorado | $63,262 |
| 30 | Maine | $58,554 |
| 31 | Alabama | $60,518 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $56,502 |
| 33 | Montana | $60,146 |
| 34 | Missouri | $54,417 |
| 35 | Illinois | $56,144 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $57,410 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $55,562 |
| 38 | Oregon | $53,897 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $57,025 |
| 40 | Alaska | $55,535 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $56,816 |
| 42 | Utah | $53,315 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $55,111 |
| 44 | Arizona | $56,049 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $60,722 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $50,569 |
| 47 | Nevada | $53,493 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $51,064 |
| 49 | Idaho | $49,979 |
| 50 | Florida | $44,587 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $45,178 |
Expert opinions on the best states for chemists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for chemists to find work opportunities?
Dr. James Leahy Ph.D.
Professor of Chemistry, University of South Florida
One of the great things about chemistry is that there are so many areas for our graduates to work, whether in health care, quality control, energy, defense, or elsewhere. Each of these areas is well represented geographically, with specific concentrations for each. Much of the energy research is based in Texas and Oklahoma. Defense research is often proximal to bases. Healthcare research has hubs in the northeast (primarily Boston) and west coast (mainly the Bay area). Quality control is often wherever manufacturing is taking place. We're fortunate that many of these opportunities are present in the Tampa area, with solar energy, MacDill, biotech companies, and manufacturers like Yuengling and Coca Cola, nearby.
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Updated January 8, 2025