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Best states for a laboratory chemist
Quoted expert
Dr. James Leahy Ph.D.
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Job opportunities vary from state to state, and life, physical, and social science careers are no different. Because we know how difficult it can be to know which states are the best when it comes to laboratory chemist jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for laboratory chemists.Although there are abundant laboratory chemist jobs in the United States, a large number of them are in the West. Vermont is the best state in the country for laboratory chemist jobs.
In order to get you the best states for laboratory 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 laboratory chemist, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for laboratory chemists in 2026
1. Vermont
Total laboratory chemist jobs: 90 Average annual salary: $84,204 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location Quotient: 1.22
2. Massachusetts
Total laboratory chemist jobs: 1,562 Average annual salary: $75,837 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location Quotient: 1.76
3. New Jersey
Total laboratory chemist jobs: 1,033 Average annual salary: $75,908 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location Quotient: 1.35
4. Maryland
Total laboratory chemist jobs: 819 Average annual salary: $75,379 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location Quotient: 1.34
5. Delaware
Total laboratory chemist jobs: 106 Average annual salary: $84,144 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location Quotient: 0.88
6. New Hampshire
Total laboratory chemist jobs: 223 Average annual salary: $65,907 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location Quotient: 1.32
7. California
Total laboratory chemist jobs: 3,773 Average annual salary: $69,645 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location Quotient: 1.34
8. Virginia
Total laboratory chemist jobs: 593 Average annual salary: $89,280 Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000 Location Quotient: 0.65
9. Connecticut
Total laboratory chemist jobs: 297 Average annual salary: $71,630 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 0.93
10. Tennessee
Total laboratory chemist jobs: 505 Average annual salary: $68,282 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location Quotient: 0.89
Laboratory chemist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a laboratory chemist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a laboratory chemist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | $84,204 | $60,000 | 623,657 | 90 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $75,837 | $53,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,562 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $75,908 | $52,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,033 |
| 4 | Maryland | $75,379 | $51,000 | 6,052,177 | 819 |
| 5 | Delaware | $84,144 | $58,000 | 961,939 | 106 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $65,907 | $46,000 | 1,342,795 | 223 |
| 7 | California | $69,645 | $46,000 | 39,536,653 | 3,773 |
| 8 | Virginia | $89,280 | $61,000 | 8,470,020 | 593 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $71,630 | $50,000 | 3,588,184 | 297 |
| 10 | Tennessee | $68,282 | $46,000 | 6,715,984 | 505 |
| 11 | Ohio | $63,989 | $44,000 | 11,658,609 | 943 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $73,590 | $51,000 | 1,059,639 | 81 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $59,634 | $41,000 | 5,795,483 | 625 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $61,571 | $43,000 | 5,576,606 | 719 |
| 15 | Iowa | $59,096 | $41,000 | 3,145,711 | 415 |
| 16 | District of Columbia | $80,843 | $55,000 | 693,972 | 94 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $63,156 | $43,000 | 1,815,857 | 114 |
| 18 | Oklahoma | $69,294 | $47,000 | 3,930,864 | 183 |
| 19 | New Mexico | $59,654 | $40,000 | 2,088,070 | 195 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $59,924 | $41,000 | 4,454,189 | 270 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $56,555 | $39,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,428 |
| 22 | New York | $59,867 | $41,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,486 |
| 23 | South Carolina | $60,850 | $40,000 | 5,024,369 | 331 |
| 24 | Kansas | $58,114 | $40,000 | 2,913,123 | 249 |
| 25 | Texas | $59,991 | $40,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,470 |
| 26 | Michigan | $56,438 | $39,000 | 9,962,311 | 758 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $57,581 | $38,000 | 10,273,419 | 843 |
| 28 | Utah | $57,378 | $39,000 | 3,101,833 | 276 |
| 29 | Washington | $55,888 | $37,000 | 7,405,743 | 872 |
| 30 | Montana | $56,454 | $39,000 | 1,050,493 | 105 |
| 31 | Missouri | $56,371 | $39,000 | 6,113,532 | 516 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $52,841 | $37,000 | 755,393 | 108 |
| 33 | Idaho | $54,202 | $36,000 | 1,716,943 | 155 |
| 34 | Colorado | $58,314 | $40,000 | 5,607,154 | 394 |
| 35 | Indiana | $54,360 | $37,000 | 6,666,818 | 527 |
| 36 | Georgia | $57,000 | $38,000 | 10,429,379 | 576 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $57,950 | $46,000 | 1,427,538 | 57 |
| 38 | Maine | $50,835 | $36,000 | 1,335,907 | 122 |
| 39 | Alaska | $52,155 | $41,000 | 739,795 | 66 |
| 40 | Illinois | $53,623 | $37,000 | 12,802,023 | 979 |
| 41 | Alabama | $52,987 | $35,000 | 4,874,747 | 282 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $53,628 | $35,000 | 4,684,333 | 210 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $48,830 | $33,000 | 3,004,279 | 237 |
| 44 | Oregon | $50,134 | $32,000 | 4,142,776 | 393 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $40,386 | $28,000 | 869,666 | 138 |
| 46 | Arizona | $50,419 | $34,000 | 7,016,270 | 502 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $52,545 | $35,000 | 2,984,100 | 130 |
| 48 | Nevada | $50,819 | $33,000 | 2,998,039 | 161 |
| 49 | Florida | $48,313 | $31,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,357 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $47,763 | $33,000 | 1,920,076 | 148 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $42,354 | $29,000 | 579,315 | 46 |
Highest paying states for laboratory chemists
| Rank | State | Avg. Laboratory Chemist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | $84,204 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $75,837 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $75,908 |
| 4 | Maryland | $75,379 |
| 5 | Delaware | $84,144 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $65,907 |
| 7 | California | $69,645 |
| 8 | Virginia | $89,280 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $71,630 |
| 10 | Tennessee | $68,282 |
| 11 | Ohio | $63,989 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $73,590 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $59,634 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $61,571 |
| 15 | Iowa | $59,096 |
| 16 | District of Columbia | $80,843 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $63,156 |
| 18 | Oklahoma | $69,294 |
| 19 | New Mexico | $59,654 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $59,924 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $56,555 |
| 22 | New York | $59,867 |
| 23 | South Carolina | $60,850 |
| 24 | Kansas | $58,114 |
| 25 | Texas | $59,991 |
| 26 | Michigan | $56,438 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $57,581 |
| 28 | Utah | $57,378 |
| 29 | Washington | $55,888 |
| 30 | Montana | $56,454 |
| 31 | Missouri | $56,371 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $52,841 |
| 33 | Idaho | $54,202 |
| 34 | Colorado | $58,314 |
| 35 | Indiana | $54,360 |
| 36 | Georgia | $57,000 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $57,950 |
| 38 | Maine | $50,835 |
| 39 | Alaska | $52,155 |
| 40 | Illinois | $53,623 |
| 41 | Alabama | $52,987 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $53,628 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $48,830 |
| 44 | Oregon | $50,134 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $40,386 |
| 46 | Arizona | $50,419 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $52,545 |
| 48 | Nevada | $50,819 |
| 49 | Florida | $48,313 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $47,763 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $42,354 |
Expert opinions on the best states for laboratory chemists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for laboratory 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