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Best states for a process chemist
Quoted expert
Dr. James Leahy Ph.D.
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We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for process chemists in the United States. Process 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 process chemists.Our research found that Delaware is the best state for process chemists, while Delaware and Maryland are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Delaware has a median salary of $107,886 and Delaware has the highest median salary among all 50 states for process chemists.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for process chemists.Delaware is the best state, and Wilmington is the city with the highest pay for process chemists.
10 best states for process chemists in 2026
1. Delaware
Total process chemist jobs: 103 Average annual salary: $107,886 Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $168,000 Location Quotient: 1.5
2. Maryland
Total process chemist jobs: 469 Average annual salary: $100,302 Lowest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $157,000 Location Quotient: 1.35
3. Massachusetts
Total process chemist jobs: 1,194 Average annual salary: $92,480 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location Quotient: 2.37
4. District of Columbia
Total process chemist jobs: 92 Average annual salary: $103,429 Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location Quotient: 1
5. Washington
Total process chemist jobs: 331 Average annual salary: $97,507 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $157,000 Location Quotient: 0.83
6. Rhode Island
Total process chemist jobs: 66 Average annual salary: $87,908 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
7. New Jersey
Total process chemist jobs: 602 Average annual salary: $88,143 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location Quotient: 1.38
8. New York
Total process chemist jobs: 727 Average annual salary: $89,420 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
9. Missouri
Total process chemist jobs: 320 Average annual salary: $83,400 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location Quotient: 1
10. Tennessee
Total process chemist jobs: 207 Average annual salary: $90,933 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000 Location Quotient: 0.64
Process chemist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a process chemist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a process chemist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $107,886 | $69,000 | 961,939 | 103 |
| 2 | Maryland | $100,302 | $63,000 | 6,052,177 | 469 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $92,480 | $59,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,194 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $103,429 | $65,000 | 693,972 | 92 |
| 5 | Washington | $97,507 | $60,000 | 7,405,743 | 331 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $87,908 | $56,000 | 1,059,639 | 66 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $88,143 | $56,000 | 9,005,644 | 602 |
| 8 | New York | $89,420 | $57,000 | 19,849,399 | 727 |
| 9 | Missouri | $83,400 | $52,000 | 6,113,532 | 320 |
| 10 | Tennessee | $90,933 | $56,000 | 6,715,984 | 207 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $79,737 | $51,000 | 12,805,537 | 785 |
| 12 | Oklahoma | $92,894 | $57,000 | 3,930,864 | 69 |
| 13 | Ohio | $79,774 | $50,000 | 11,658,609 | 532 |
| 14 | Indiana | $78,910 | $49,000 | 6,666,818 | 343 |
| 15 | Virginia | $87,497 | $55,000 | 8,470,020 | 396 |
| 16 | New Mexico | $81,458 | $49,000 | 2,088,070 | 90 |
| 17 | Vermont | $86,773 | $56,000 | 623,657 | 23 |
| 18 | Utah | $79,824 | $48,000 | 3,101,833 | 165 |
| 19 | West Virginia | $81,807 | $51,000 | 1,815,857 | 53 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $78,679 | $49,000 | 4,454,189 | 157 |
| 21 | Connecticut | $83,184 | $53,000 | 3,588,184 | 161 |
| 22 | North Carolina | $76,079 | $47,000 | 10,273,419 | 705 |
| 23 | Iowa | $76,759 | $48,000 | 3,145,711 | 193 |
| 24 | South Carolina | $80,367 | $49,000 | 5,024,369 | 174 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $78,487 | $49,000 | 5,576,606 | 335 |
| 26 | Texas | $78,025 | $47,000 | 28,304,596 | 775 |
| 27 | New Hampshire | $72,900 | $47,000 | 1,342,795 | 126 |
| 28 | Kansas | $74,669 | $46,000 | 2,913,123 | 139 |
| 29 | Idaho | $74,397 | $45,000 | 1,716,943 | 84 |
| 30 | Georgia | $76,639 | $47,000 | 10,429,379 | 396 |
| 31 | Michigan | $72,872 | $45,000 | 9,962,311 | 370 |
| 32 | California | $72,396 | $44,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,463 |
| 33 | Oregon | $70,166 | $43,000 | 4,142,776 | 264 |
| 34 | Nevada | $73,494 | $44,000 | 2,998,039 | 79 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $65,692 | $41,000 | 5,795,483 | 355 |
| 36 | Illinois | $68,078 | $42,000 | 12,802,023 | 630 |
| 37 | Alabama | $69,690 | $42,000 | 4,874,747 | 158 |
| 38 | Colorado | $71,528 | $45,000 | 5,607,154 | 220 |
| 39 | Arizona | $68,222 | $41,000 | 7,016,270 | 267 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $69,782 | $42,000 | 2,984,100 | 53 |
| 41 | Montana | $70,912 | $44,000 | 1,050,493 | 29 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $65,159 | $40,000 | 3,004,279 | 108 |
| 43 | Alaska | $66,571 | $54,000 | 739,795 | 13 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $69,056 | $41,000 | 4,684,333 | 61 |
| 45 | North Dakota | $61,878 | $39,000 | 755,393 | 36 |
| 46 | Florida | $62,901 | $38,000 | 20,984,400 | 570 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $56,947 | $48,000 | 1,427,538 | 12 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $60,406 | $38,000 | 1,920,076 | 81 |
| 49 | Maine | $51,294 | $33,000 | 1,335,907 | 59 |
| 50 | Wyoming | $52,137 | $33,000 | 579,315 | 15 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $50,683 | $32,000 | 869,666 | 20 |
Highest paying states for process chemists
| Rank | State | Avg. Process Chemist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $107,886 |
| 2 | Maryland | $100,302 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $92,480 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $103,429 |
| 5 | Washington | $97,507 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $87,908 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $88,143 |
| 8 | New York | $89,420 |
| 9 | Missouri | $83,400 |
| 10 | Tennessee | $90,933 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $79,737 |
| 12 | Oklahoma | $92,894 |
| 13 | Ohio | $79,774 |
| 14 | Indiana | $78,910 |
| 15 | Virginia | $87,497 |
| 16 | New Mexico | $81,458 |
| 17 | Vermont | $86,773 |
| 18 | Utah | $79,824 |
| 19 | West Virginia | $81,807 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $78,679 |
| 21 | Connecticut | $83,184 |
| 22 | North Carolina | $76,079 |
| 23 | Iowa | $76,759 |
| 24 | South Carolina | $80,367 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $78,487 |
| 26 | Texas | $78,025 |
| 27 | New Hampshire | $72,900 |
| 28 | Kansas | $74,669 |
| 29 | Idaho | $74,397 |
| 30 | Georgia | $76,639 |
| 31 | Michigan | $72,872 |
| 32 | California | $72,396 |
| 33 | Oregon | $70,166 |
| 34 | Nevada | $73,494 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $65,692 |
| 36 | Illinois | $68,078 |
| 37 | Alabama | $69,690 |
| 38 | Colorado | $71,528 |
| 39 | Arizona | $68,222 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $69,782 |
| 41 | Montana | $70,912 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $65,159 |
| 43 | Alaska | $66,571 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $69,056 |
| 45 | North Dakota | $61,878 |
| 46 | Florida | $62,901 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $56,947 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $60,406 |
| 49 | Maine | $51,294 |
| 50 | Wyoming | $52,137 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $50,683 |
Expert opinions on the best states for process chemists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for process 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