Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for a research 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 research chemists in the United States. Research 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 research chemists.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for research chemists. We found that Delaware is the best state in the nation for research chemists, and people in Virginia Beach earn the most in the field.
The median salary for research chemists in Delaware is $98,255. Compare that to the median salary in Wyoming of $52,083, which ranked worst for research chemists, and you can see how your location is important for your career.Delaware is the best state, and Virginia Beach is the city with the highest pay for research chemists.
10 best states for research chemists in 2025
1. Delaware
Total research chemist jobs: 132 Average annual salary: $98,255 Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
2. Virginia
Total research chemist jobs: 888 Average annual salary: $108,101 Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $154,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
3. Massachusetts
Total research chemist jobs: 1,397 Average annual salary: $86,773 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location Quotient: 1.56
4. Vermont
Total research chemist jobs: 103 Average annual salary: $85,106 Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $116,000 Location Quotient: 1.38
5. Tennessee
Total research chemist jobs: 553 Average annual salary: $91,197 Lowest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
6. Rhode Island
Total research chemist jobs: 161 Average annual salary: $78,557 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location Quotient: 1.36
7. Texas
Total research chemist jobs: 1,800 Average annual salary: $81,962 Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location Quotient: 0.91
8. Oklahoma
Total research chemist jobs: 220 Average annual salary: $87,800 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location Quotient: 0.73
9. New Jersey
Total research chemist jobs: 1,109 Average annual salary: $79,489 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location Quotient: 1.43
10. New Mexico
Total research chemist jobs: 208 Average annual salary: $76,047 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
Research chemist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a research chemist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a research chemist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $98,255 | $69,000 | 961,939 | 132 |
| 2 | Virginia | $108,101 | $75,000 | 8,470,020 | 888 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $86,773 | $62,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,397 |
| 4 | Vermont | $85,106 | $61,000 | 623,657 | 103 |
| 5 | Tennessee | $91,197 | $63,000 | 6,715,984 | 553 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $78,557 | $55,000 | 1,059,639 | 161 |
| 7 | Texas | $81,962 | $54,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,800 |
| 8 | Oklahoma | $87,800 | $60,000 | 3,930,864 | 220 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $79,489 | $55,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,109 |
| 10 | New Mexico | $76,047 | $50,000 | 2,088,070 | 208 |
| 11 | Ohio | $75,955 | $52,000 | 11,658,609 | 969 |
| 12 | Maryland | $88,507 | $62,000 | 6,052,177 | 409 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $76,867 | $53,000 | 1,815,857 | 120 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $96,173 | $67,000 | 693,972 | 80 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $78,313 | $55,000 | 3,588,184 | 326 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $73,253 | $50,000 | 5,576,606 | 736 |
| 17 | California | $75,933 | $49,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,510 |
| 18 | Kentucky | $77,582 | $53,000 | 4,454,189 | 221 |
| 19 | Michigan | $71,656 | $49,000 | 9,962,311 | 774 |
| 20 | South Carolina | $78,455 | $54,000 | 5,024,369 | 211 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $69,423 | $48,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,552 |
| 22 | Iowa | $73,314 | $51,000 | 3,145,711 | 274 |
| 23 | Washington | $78,221 | $51,000 | 7,405,743 | 454 |
| 24 | Oregon | $69,683 | $46,000 | 4,142,776 | 637 |
| 25 | Idaho | $73,311 | $48,000 | 1,716,943 | 135 |
| 26 | Colorado | $72,053 | $49,000 | 5,607,154 | 611 |
| 27 | Kansas | $72,332 | $50,000 | 2,913,123 | 199 |
| 28 | Montana | $71,672 | $49,000 | 1,050,493 | 96 |
| 29 | Alaska | $80,208 | $65,000 | 739,795 | 8 |
| 30 | New Hampshire | $67,483 | $48,000 | 1,342,795 | 199 |
| 31 | Mississippi | $70,022 | $48,000 | 2,984,100 | 120 |
| 32 | Georgia | $70,255 | $48,000 | 10,429,379 | 741 |
| 33 | Nevada | $70,424 | $45,000 | 2,998,039 | 114 |
| 34 | Indiana | $66,954 | $46,000 | 6,666,818 | 530 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $72,164 | $55,000 | 1,427,538 | 65 |
| 36 | Illinois | $65,813 | $45,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,189 |
| 37 | Alabama | $67,922 | $46,000 | 4,874,747 | 168 |
| 38 | Utah | $62,497 | $41,000 | 3,101,833 | 330 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $63,779 | $44,000 | 5,795,483 | 499 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $68,313 | $46,000 | 4,684,333 | 168 |
| 41 | Arizona | $64,994 | $42,000 | 7,016,270 | 504 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $59,144 | $41,000 | 1,920,076 | 247 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $62,890 | $43,000 | 10,273,419 | 902 |
| 44 | Missouri | $60,839 | $42,000 | 6,113,532 | 606 |
| 45 | North Dakota | $62,758 | $43,000 | 755,393 | 71 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $62,126 | $43,000 | 3,004,279 | 144 |
| 47 | New York | $64,089 | $44,000 | 19,849,399 | 729 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $49,343 | $34,000 | 869,666 | 106 |
| 49 | Maine | $50,400 | $37,000 | 1,335,907 | 130 |
| 50 | Florida | $55,494 | $38,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,312 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $52,083 | $36,000 | 579,315 | 53 |
Highest paying states for research chemists
| Rank | State | Avg. Research Chemist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $98,255 |
| 2 | Virginia | $108,101 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $86,773 |
| 4 | Vermont | $85,106 |
| 5 | Tennessee | $91,197 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $78,557 |
| 7 | Texas | $81,962 |
| 8 | Oklahoma | $87,800 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $79,489 |
| 10 | New Mexico | $76,047 |
| 11 | Ohio | $75,955 |
| 12 | Maryland | $88,507 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $76,867 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $96,173 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $78,313 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $73,253 |
| 17 | California | $75,933 |
| 18 | Kentucky | $77,582 |
| 19 | Michigan | $71,656 |
| 20 | South Carolina | $78,455 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $69,423 |
| 22 | Iowa | $73,314 |
| 23 | Washington | $78,221 |
| 24 | Oregon | $69,683 |
| 25 | Idaho | $73,311 |
| 26 | Colorado | $72,053 |
| 27 | Kansas | $72,332 |
| 28 | Montana | $71,672 |
| 29 | Alaska | $80,208 |
| 30 | New Hampshire | $67,483 |
| 31 | Mississippi | $70,022 |
| 32 | Georgia | $70,255 |
| 33 | Nevada | $70,424 |
| 34 | Indiana | $66,954 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $72,164 |
| 36 | Illinois | $65,813 |
| 37 | Alabama | $67,922 |
| 38 | Utah | $62,497 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $63,779 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $68,313 |
| 41 | Arizona | $64,994 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $59,144 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $62,890 |
| 44 | Missouri | $60,839 |
| 45 | North Dakota | $62,758 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $62,126 |
| 47 | New York | $64,089 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $49,343 |
| 49 | Maine | $50,400 |
| 50 | Florida | $55,494 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $52,083 |
Expert opinions on the best states for research chemists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for research 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.
Research chemist best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common life, physical, and social science questions.
Search for research chemist jobs
Updated January 8, 2025