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Cosmetic chemist salary
Average cosmetic chemist salary
$59,876
Cosmetic Chemist Salary Insights
As of October 2025, cosmetic chemists earn an average annual salary of $59,876, or about $29 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as experience, location, and employer. For instance, cosmetic chemists in states like California and New York typically earn higher wages due to the concentration of cosmetic companies in these areas.
Factors Influencing Salary
Experience levels play a crucial role; entry-level positions may start lower, while those with extensive experience or specialized skills can command much higher salaries. Additionally, cosmetic chemists who work for large firms or in management roles often enjoy better compensation packages. The demand for innovative products is driving growth in this field, presenting opportunities for career advancement.
Job Market Overview
The cosmetic industry continues to expand, with a wide range of job roles available, from formulation chemists to product development specialists. Exploring job listings on platforms like Zippia can provide insights into available opportunities and salary ranges in various locations.
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Where can a Cosmetic Chemist earn more?
Cosmetic chemist salary estimates from across the web
Average cosmetic chemist salary by state
The highest-paying states for cosmetic chemists are Washington, Delaware, and New Jersey. The lowest average cosmetic chemist salary states are Florida, Maine, and Pennsylvania.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for cosmetic chemists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $82,484 | $39.66 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $78,466 | $37.72 |
| 3 | Washington | $85,277 | $41.00 |
| 4 | Missouri | $66,967 | $32.20 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $67,918 | $32.65 |
| 6 | Tennessee | $71,153 | $34.21 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $67,842 | $32.62 |
| 8 | Vermont | $76,074 | $36.57 |
| 9 | Maryland | $69,179 | $33.26 |
| 10 | Michigan | $68,854 | $33.10 |
| 11 | Texas | $67,293 | $32.35 |
| 12 | Utah | $65,549 | $31.51 |
| 13 | Oklahoma | $72,954 | $35.07 |
| 14 | Ohio | $63,382 | $30.47 |
| 15 | District of Columbia | $79,504 | $38.22 |
| 16 | Virginia | $67,028 | $32.23 |
| 17 | New Mexico | $62,366 | $29.98 |
| 18 | Idaho | $63,933 | $30.74 |
| 19 | South Carolina | $63,050 | $30.31 |
| 20 | Iowa | $60,752 | $29.21 |
| 21 | Indiana | $61,024 | $29.34 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $59,749 | $28.73 |
| 23 | Montana | $64,485 | $31.00 |
| 24 | Kentucky | $60,785 | $29.22 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $60,324 | $29.00 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $62,855 | $30.22 |
| 27 | Alaska | $68,489 | $32.93 |
| 28 | California | $59,479 | $28.60 |
| 29 | Kansas | $60,826 | $29.24 |
| 30 | Oregon | $58,131 | $27.95 |
| 31 | Nevada | $62,481 | $30.04 |
| 32 | Connecticut | $57,977 | $27.87 |
| 33 | Colorado | $61,413 | $29.53 |
| 34 | North Dakota | $55,078 | $26.48 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $51,596 | $24.81 |
| 36 | Illinois | $55,011 | $26.45 |
| 37 | Georgia | $59,077 | $28.40 |
| 38 | Arizona | $56,816 | $27.32 |
| 39 | Pennsylvania | $48,363 | $23.25 |
| 40 | Alabama | $55,387 | $26.63 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $51,408 | $24.72 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $56,822 | $27.32 |
| 43 | New York | $50,076 | $24.07 |
| 44 | North Carolina | $47,799 | $22.98 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $53,669 | $25.80 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $54,741 | $26.32 |
| 47 | Maine | $48,757 | $23.44 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $50,129 | $24.10 |
| 49 | Florida | $49,634 | $23.86 |
| 50 | Wyoming | $46,880 | $22.54 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $42,426 | $20.40 |
Highest paying cities for cosmetic chemists
The highest-paying cities for cosmetic chemists are Skillman, NJ, Englewood, NJ, and Oxon Hill, MD.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Skillman, NJ | $78,609 | $37.79 |
| 2 | Englewood, NJ | $77,984 | $37.49 |
| 3 | Oxon Hill, MD | $69,180 | $33.26 |
| 4 | Park City, UT | $65,415 | $31.45 |
| 5 | Vacaville, CA | $63,678 | $30.61 |
| 6 | Myrtle Beach, SC | $63,465 | $30.51 |
| 7 | Livermore, CA | $63,157 | $30.36 |
| 8 | Dayton, OH | $62,714 | $30.15 |
| 9 | Mason, OH | $62,518 | $30.06 |
| 10 | Milford, OH | $62,453 | $30.03 |
| 11 | Blue Ash, OH | $62,452 | $30.02 |
| 12 | Norwood, OH | $62,394 | $30.00 |
| 13 | Cincinnati, OH | $62,360 | $29.98 |
| 14 | Hilton Head Island, SC | $62,246 | $29.93 |
| 15 | Silverthorne, CO | $61,822 | $29.72 |
| 16 | Castle Rock, CO | $61,466 | $29.55 |
| 17 | Thornton, CO | $61,408 | $29.52 |
| 18 | Michigan City, IN | $61,204 | $29.43 |
| 19 | Eagan, MN | $60,410 | $29.04 |
| 20 | Merrimack, NH | $60,070 | $28.88 |
Cosmetic chemist salary details
A cosmetic chemist's salary ranges from $42,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $83,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a cosmetic chemist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $83,000 | $6,917 | $40 |
| 75th Percentile | $71,000 | $5,917 | $34 |
| Average | $59,876 | $4,990 | $29 |
| 25th Percentile | $50,000 | $4,167 | $24 |
| 10th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
Highest paying cosmetic chemist jobs
The highest paying types of cosmetic chemists are senior scientist, scientist, and senior chemist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quality Control | $32,824 | $2,735 | $15.78 | 83,496 |
| Chemical Technician | $42,584 | $3,549 | $20.47 | 40,191 |
| Laboratory Analyst | $44,024 | $3,669 | $21.17 | 44,074 |
| Quality Control Analyst | $59,217 | $4,935 | $28.47 | 85,546 |
| Quality Control Coordinator | $49,894 | $4,158 | $23.99 | 88,145 |
| Postdoctoral Scholar | $57,587 | $4,799 | $27.69 | 18,983 |
Top companies hiring cosmetic chemists now:
Which companies pay cosmetic chemists the most?
Cosmetic chemist salaries at BASF and LanceSoft are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average cosmetic chemist salary at companies like Estée Lauder and Cosmo are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BASF | $83,498 | $40.14 |
| 2 | LanceSoft | $65,802 | $31.64 |
| 3 | Estée Lauder | $58,989 | $28.36 |
| 4 | Cosmo | $57,017 | $27.41 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Cosmetic chemist salary trends
The average cosmetic chemist salary has risen by $7,203 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average cosmetic chemist earned $52,673 annually, but today, they earn $59,876 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for cosmetic chemists over the last decade.
Compare cosmetic chemist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average cosmetic chemist salary over time
Compare cosmetic chemist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Cosmetic chemist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $59,900 | $28.79 | +2.1% |
| 2025 | $58,600 | $28.18 | +1.0% |
| 2024 | $58,100 | $27.91 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | $56,400 | $27.13 | +1.3% |
| 2022 | $55,700 | $26.77 | +3.4% |
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