Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Chemical laboratory scientist salary
Average chemical laboratory scientist salary
$69,602
Average Salary Insights
The average salary for a Chemical Laboratory Scientist is approximately $69,602 per year, equating to about $33 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on experience level, geographic location, and industry sector. For instance, entry-level positions may start lower, while those with extensive experience can see salaries exceeding $100,000.
State Variations
In terms of state averages, regions with a high concentration of pharmaceutical companies tend to offer the highest salaries. States like California and New Jersey lead in compensation, reflecting the demand for skilled scientists in these areas. In contrast, states with fewer industry hubs may offer lower salaries, emphasizing the importance of location in salary negotiations.
Highest Paying Cities
- San Francisco, CA
- Boston, MA
- Seattle, WA
These cities not only provide higher salaries but also a vibrant professional landscape for chemical laboratory scientists. With a growing emphasis on research and development, opportunities are abundant, making this field both lucrative and rewarding.
Let Zippia find your next chemical laboratory scientist job
Let Zippia find your next chemical laboratory scientist job
Where can a Chemical Laboratory Scientist earn more?
Average chemical laboratory scientist salary by state
The average chemical laboratory scientist salary in Massachusetts, Vermont, and Delaware are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average chemical laboratory scientist salary states are North Dakota, North Carolina, and Nebraska.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for chemical laboratory scientists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | $93,715 | $45.06 |
| 2 | Delaware | $91,898 | $44.18 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $77,002 | $37.02 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $74,836 | $35.98 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $97,911 | $47.07 |
| 6 | Maryland | $75,459 | $36.28 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $82,803 | $39.81 |
| 8 | Michigan | $73,981 | $35.57 |
| 9 | Virginia | $71,255 | $34.26 |
| 10 | West Virginia | $66,463 | $31.95 |
| 11 | Washington | $75,741 | $36.41 |
| 12 | Tennessee | $71,512 | $34.38 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $69,021 | $33.18 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $86,034 | $41.36 |
| 15 | Texas | $72,643 | $34.92 |
| 16 | Oklahoma | $72,252 | $34.74 |
| 17 | Nevada | $71,422 | $34.34 |
| 18 | New Mexico | $65,645 | $31.56 |
| 19 | Missouri | $66,560 | $32.00 |
| 20 | Ohio | $67,276 | $32.34 |
| 21 | Maine | $61,023 | $29.34 |
| 22 | Utah | $64,786 | $31.15 |
| 23 | Indiana | $63,462 | $30.51 |
| 24 | Iowa | $60,674 | $29.17 |
| 25 | South Carolina | $64,925 | $31.21 |
| 26 | Minnesota | $60,408 | $29.04 |
| 27 | California | $68,418 | $32.89 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $62,516 | $30.06 |
| 29 | Kansas | $59,762 | $28.73 |
| 30 | Hawaii | $60,676 | $29.17 |
| 31 | New York | $58,245 | $28.00 |
| 32 | Idaho | $58,587 | $28.17 |
| 33 | Arizona | $61,499 | $29.57 |
| 34 | North Dakota | $50,772 | $24.41 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $53,783 | $25.86 |
| 36 | Louisiana | $60,747 | $29.21 |
| 37 | Oregon | $58,670 | $28.21 |
| 38 | Pennsylvania | $54,478 | $26.19 |
| 39 | Illinois | $57,189 | $27.49 |
| 40 | Georgia | $60,307 | $28.99 |
| 41 | Montana | $53,043 | $25.50 |
| 42 | Alabama | $56,473 | $27.15 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $49,593 | $23.84 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $56,314 | $27.07 |
| 45 | Colorado | $57,188 | $27.49 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $40,146 | $19.30 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $50,949 | $24.49 |
| 48 | Florida | $53,263 | $25.61 |
| 49 | Alaska | $42,107 | $20.24 |
| 50 | Wyoming | $41,360 | $19.88 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $48,489 | $23.31 |
Highest paying cities for chemical laboratory scientists
The highest-paying cities for chemical laboratory scientists are Cambridge, MA, Woburn, MA, and Sanbornton, NH.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cambridge, MA | $98,057 | $47.14 |
| 2 | Woburn, MA | $97,970 | $47.10 |
| 3 | Sanbornton, NH | $73,821 | $35.49 |
| 4 | Sugar Land, TX | $72,772 | $34.99 |
| 5 | Oklahoma City, OK | $72,400 | $34.81 |
| 6 | Mount Juliet, TN | $71,927 | $34.58 |
| 7 | Chino, CA | $65,643 | $31.56 |
| 8 | South Bend, IN | $64,356 | $30.94 |
| 9 | Indianapolis, IN | $63,386 | $30.47 |
| 10 | Saint Rose, LA | $60,917 | $29.29 |
| 11 | Vadnais Heights, MN | $60,504 | $29.09 |
| 12 | Roselle, IL | $57,290 | $27.54 |
| 13 | Corning, NY | $57,093 | $27.45 |
| 14 | Golden, CO | $57,056 | $27.43 |
| 15 | Parkton, NC | $49,411 | $23.76 |
Chemical laboratory scientist salary details
A chemical laboratory scientist's salary ranges from $44,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $108,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a chemical laboratory scientist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $108,000 | $9,000 | $52 |
| 75th Percentile | $87,000 | $7,250 | $42 |
| Average | $69,602 | $5,800 | $33 |
| 25th Percentile | $55,000 | $4,583 | $26 |
| 10th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
Highest paying chemical laboratory scientist jobs
The highest paying types of chemical laboratory scientists are scientist, senior research chemist, and senior chemist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research And Development Chemist | $77,233 | $6,436 | $37.13 | 100,225 |
| Quality Assurance Chemist | $59,242 | $4,937 | $28.48 | 66,457 |
| Quality Control Chemist | $58,892 | $4,908 | $28.31 | 90,467 |
| Environmental Chemist | $56,956 | $4,746 | $27.38 | 22,234 |
| Formulation Chemist | $66,678 | $5,557 | $32.06 | 3,011 |
| Analytical Chemist | $61,573 | $5,131 | $29.60 | 14,661 |
Top companies hiring chemical laboratory scientists now:
Which companies pay chemical laboratory scientists the most?
Chemical laboratory scientist salaries at Biogen and Baker Hughes are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average chemical laboratory scientist salary at companies like Jacobs Engineering Group and H.B. Fuller are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Biogen | $108,395 | $52.11 |
| 2 | Baker Hughes | $100,532 | $48.33 |
| 3 | Jacobs Engineering Group | $95,100 | $45.72 |
| 4 | H.B. Fuller | $81,968 | $39.41 |
| 5 | Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Inc. | $81,546 | $39.20 |
| 6 | Alliance for Sustainable Energy | $78,707 | $37.84 |
| 7 | LanzaTech | $63,729 | $30.64 |
| 8 | Pace Analytical | $63,499 | $30.53 |
| 9 | Associated University | $62,581 | $30.09 |
| 10 | Adecco | $43,028 | $20.69 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Chemical laboratory scientist salary trends
The average chemical laboratory scientist salary has risen by $8,374 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average chemical laboratory scientist earned $61,228 annually, but today, they earn $69,602 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for chemical laboratory scientists over the last decade.
Compare chemical laboratory scientist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average chemical laboratory scientist salary over time
Compare chemical laboratory scientist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Chemical laboratory scientist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $69,600 | $33.46 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $68,100 | $32.76 | +1.0% |
| 2023 | $67,500 | $32.45 | +2.8% |
| 2022 | $65,600 | $31.54 | +1.3% |
| 2021 | $64,700 | $31.12 | +3.4% |
Recently added chemical laboratory scientist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merck | Scientist, Chemical Biotechnologies (Protein Engineering) | Rahway, NJ | 05/27/2025 | $85,600 |
| Dept. of Environmental Quality | Environmental Chemical Laboratory Scientist | Oklahoma City, OK | 05/22/2025 | $59,155 |
| State of Oklahoma | Environmental Chemical Laboratory Scientist | Oklahoma City, OK | 05/20/2025 | $59,155 |
| Biogen Idec | Scientist, Chem & MOL Therapeutics | Cambridge, MA | 03/26/2025 | $114,000 |
| Dept of Agriculture Food & Forestry | Environmental/Chemical Lab Scientist | Oklahoma City, OK | 12/08/2024 | $53,239 |
| Oklahoma AG | Environmental/Chemical Lab Scientist | Cole, OK | 12/06/2024 | $53,239 |
| State of Oklahoma | Environmental Chemical Lab Scientist | Oklahoma City, OK | 12/03/2024 | $59,155 |
| Healthcare Distribution Alliance | Scientist, General Chem Lab OPS | Mansfield, MA | 09/26/2024 | $88,700 |
| Wv Departments of Health, Health Facilities, and Human Services | Laboratory Scientist-Chemical Terrorism Unit | Charleston, WV | 09/23/2024 | $51,584 |
| Wv Departments of Health, Health Facilities, and Human Services | Laboratory Scientist-Chemical Terrorism Unit | Charleston, WV | 09/13/2024 | $51,584 |
Chemical laboratory scientist salary FAQs
Search for chemical laboratory scientist jobs