Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The salary of an Applications Chemist typically varies, with an average of $60,368 annually. Compensation can differ significantly based on the state, years of experience, and the specific sector within the chemical industry.
For instance, applications chemists in states like California and Texas tend to earn higher salaries due to demand and cost of living. Cities such as San Francisco and Houston often offer competitive salaries that reflect the local job market.
Entry-level positions may offer salaries closer to $50,000, while experienced chemists can command over $80,000, especially in specialized roles. Continuous education and skills development can also enhance earning potential.
With a growing focus on sustainability and product development, the demand for applications chemists is increasing. Job seekers should explore various industries, including pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, and environmental services, to find the best opportunities.
Let Zippia find your next applications chemist job
Let Zippia find your next applications chemist job
The highest-paying states for applications chemists are Delaware, Vermont, and New Jersey. The lowest average applications chemist salary states are Arizona, Arkansas, and Nebraska.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $84,030 | $40.40 |
| 2 | Vermont | $80,688 | $38.79 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $80,094 | $38.51 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $71,872 | $34.55 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $75,932 | $36.51 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $73,640 | $35.40 |
| 7 | Washington | $67,958 | $32.67 |
| 8 | Maryland | $69,124 | $33.23 |
| 9 | Virginia | $66,962 | $32.19 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $63,643 | $30.60 |
| 11 | New York | $68,326 | $32.85 |
| 12 | Michigan | $64,242 | $30.89 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $59,843 | $28.77 |
| 14 | Tennessee | $63,732 | $30.64 |
| 15 | Ohio | $62,436 | $30.02 |
| 16 | Utah | $55,002 | $26.44 |
| 17 | Oklahoma | $64,776 | $31.14 |
| 18 | Indiana | $58,389 | $28.07 |
| 19 | West Virginia | $61,948 | $29.78 |
| 20 | California | $57,871 | $27.82 |
| 21 | Iowa | $55,710 | $26.78 |
| 22 | Missouri | $59,898 | $28.80 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $57,034 | $27.42 |
| 24 | South Carolina | $56,920 | $27.37 |
| 25 | Kansas | $53,497 | $25.72 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $51,150 | $24.59 |
| 27 | Montana | $52,766 | $25.37 |
| 28 | New Mexico | $56,249 | $27.04 |
| 29 | Illinois | $52,458 | $25.22 |
| 30 | Colorado | $52,050 | $25.02 |
| 31 | Georgia | $52,722 | $25.35 |
| 32 | Texas | $51,452 | $24.74 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $49,293 | $23.70 |
| 34 | Idaho | $51,602 | $24.81 |
| 35 | Nevada | $49,584 | $23.84 |
| 36 | Minnesota | $51,392 | $24.71 |
| 37 | North Carolina | $47,390 | $22.78 |
| 38 | Alaska | $51,725 | $24.87 |
| 39 | Maine | $48,197 | $23.17 |
| 40 | North Dakota | $49,223 | $23.66 |
| 41 | Oregon | $48,260 | $23.20 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $50,562 | $24.31 |
| 43 | Alabama | $49,763 | $23.92 |
| 44 | Arizona | $46,895 | $22.55 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $49,770 | $23.93 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $52,999 | $25.48 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $44,298 | $21.30 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $45,413 | $21.83 |
| 49 | Florida | $36,418 | $17.51 |
| 50 | Wyoming | $39,142 | $18.82 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $37,713 | $18.13 |
The highest-paying cities for applications chemists are Wilmington, DE, Milford, MA, and North Kingstown, RI.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wilmington, DE | $84,175 | $40.47 |
| 2 | Milford, MA | $74,054 | $35.60 |
| 3 | North Kingstown, RI | $72,163 | $34.69 |
| 4 | Schenectady, NY | $66,842 | $32.14 |
| 5 | Midland, MI | $63,710 | $30.63 |
| 6 | Sunnyvale, CA | $62,895 | $30.24 |
| 7 | Shelton, CT | $59,892 | $28.79 |
| 8 | Lubbock, TX | $52,340 | $25.16 |
| 9 | Charlotte, NC | $45,807 | $22.02 |
An applications chemist's salary ranges from $41,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $87,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $87,000 | $7,250 | $42 |
| 75th Percentile | $73,000 | $6,083 | $35 |
| Average | $60,368 | $5,031 | $29 |
| 25th Percentile | $49,000 | $4,083 | $24 |
| 10th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
The highest paying types of applications chemists are senior research chemist, senior chemist, and analytical research chemist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemist, Development | $71,571 | $5,964 | $34.41 | 57,547 |
| Research And Development Chemist | $77,233 | $6,436 | $37.13 | 100,225 |
| Quality Assurance Chemist | $59,242 | $4,937 | $28.48 | 66,457 |
| Research Chemist | $75,843 | $6,320 | $36.46 | 53,769 |
| Chemist | $64,961 | $5,413 | $31.23 | 20,221 |
| Environmental Chemist | $56,956 | $4,746 | $27.38 | 22,234 |
Top companies hiring applications chemists now:
Applications chemist salaries at Agilent Technologies and Varian Medical Systems are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average applications chemist salary at companies like BASF and SI Group are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Agilent Technologies | $106,678 | $51.29 |
| 2 | Varian Medical Systems | $105,451 | $50.70 |
| 3 | BASF | $96,991 | $46.63 |
| 4 | SI Group | $95,289 | $45.81 |
| 5 | Sun Chemical | $89,976 | $43.26 |
| 6 | Thermo Fisher Scientific | $87,785 | $42.20 |
| 7 | Symrise | $57,308 | $27.55 |
| 8 | Interpolymer | $57,223 | $27.51 |
| 9 | Milestone | $56,495 | $27.16 |
| 10 | Kelly Services | $54,003 | $25.96 |
The average applications chemist salary has risen by $7,263 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average applications chemist earned $53,105 annually, but today, they earn $60,368 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for applications chemists over the last decade.
Compare applications chemist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare applications chemist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $60,400 | $29.02 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $59,100 | $28.41 | +1.0% |
| 2023 | $58,500 | $28.14 | +2.8% |
| 2022 | $56,900 | $27.35 | +1.3% |
| 2021 | $56,100 | $26.99 | +3.4% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Actalent | Application Chemist | Hackensack, NJ | 06/25/2025 | $45,914 |
| Kelly Services | Applications Chemist | Itasca, IL | 05/13/2025 | $80,000 |
| Kelly Services | Applications Chemist | Itasca, IL | 04/19/2025 | $80,000 |
| Kelly Services | Applications Chemist | Itasca, IL | 03/27/2025 | $80,000 |
| Si Group, Inc. | Lead Application Chemist | Houston, TX | 03/08/2025 | $116,688 |
| Si Group, Inc. | Lead Application Chemist | Houston, TX | 02/27/2025 | $135,000 |
| Si Group, Inc. | Lead Applications Chemist | Houston, TX | 02/21/2025 | $116,688 |
| Synapse International | Applications Development Chemist | Charleston, WV | 02/17/2025 | $91,000 |
| Ethical Search Professionals, Ltd. | Applications Development Chemist | Charleston, WV | 02/17/2025 | $91,000 |
| Bridgeway Pro | Applications Development Chemist | Louisville, KY | 02/16/2025 | $91,000 |
Search for applications chemist jobs