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Chemist lead salary
Average chemist lead salary
$83,663
Understanding Chemist Lead Salaries
A Chemist Lead plays a vital role in overseeing laboratory processes and ensuring compliance with industry standards. As of October 2025, the average salary for a Chemist Lead is $83,663 per year. This figure can vary based on location, experience, and industry. For instance, Chemist Leads in states like California and Texas often earn more due to higher demand and cost of living considerations.
Factors Affecting Salary
Several factors influence the salary of a Chemist Lead:
- Experience: More experienced Chemist Leads typically command higher salaries.
- Industry: Those working in pharmaceuticals or advanced materials may earn more than those in education or government roles.
- Location: Salaries can differ significantly from state to state; urban areas usually offer higher wages.
Research shows that Chemist Leads in cities like San Francisco and New York enjoy some of the highest salaries in the country, reflecting both the competitive job market and high living costs. To maximize your earning potential, consider gaining specialized skills or certifications relevant to your field.
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Where can a Chemist Lead earn more?
Average chemist lead salary by state
The average chemist lead salary in Delaware, Washington, and Vermont are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average chemist lead salary states are Nebraska, Maine, and Hawaii.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for chemist leads
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $93,715 | $45.06 |
| 2 | Delaware | $111,714 | $53.71 |
| 3 | Tennessee | $93,364 | $44.89 |
| 4 | Oklahoma | $93,626 | $45.01 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $100,296 | $48.22 |
| 6 | Washington | $107,902 | $51.88 |
| 7 | Michigan | $85,683 | $41.19 |
| 8 | Missouri | $86,291 | $41.49 |
| 9 | Vermont | $100,367 | $48.25 |
| 10 | Utah | $82,768 | $39.79 |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $107,072 | $51.48 |
| 12 | Kentucky | $81,353 | $39.11 |
| 13 | Ohio | $85,080 | $40.90 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $81,324 | $39.10 |
| 15 | New Mexico | $82,213 | $39.53 |
| 16 | Virginia | $90,715 | $43.61 |
| 17 | Connecticut | $87,373 | $42.01 |
| 18 | Maryland | $92,218 | $44.34 |
| 19 | California | $92,568 | $44.50 |
| 20 | Idaho | $79,975 | $38.45 |
| 21 | Massachusetts | $87,131 | $41.89 |
| 22 | New York | $90,117 | $43.33 |
| 23 | South Carolina | $83,383 | $40.09 |
| 24 | Indiana | $81,606 | $39.23 |
| 25 | Nevada | $76,624 | $36.84 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $84,715 | $40.73 |
| 27 | Montana | $77,819 | $37.41 |
| 28 | Kansas | $77,177 | $37.10 |
| 29 | Alaska | $75,494 | $36.30 |
| 30 | Texas | $81,383 | $39.13 |
| 31 | Iowa | $79,234 | $38.09 |
| 32 | Alabama | $72,371 | $34.79 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $66,109 | $31.78 |
| 34 | Georgia | $77,243 | $37.14 |
| 35 | Illinois | $73,392 | $35.28 |
| 36 | Pennsylvania | $67,706 | $32.55 |
| 37 | Minnesota | $71,379 | $34.32 |
| 38 | Wisconsin | $67,953 | $32.67 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $55,919 | $26.88 |
| 40 | Oregon | $75,002 | $36.06 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $73,514 | $35.34 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $72,372 | $34.79 |
| 43 | North Dakota | $68,372 | $32.87 |
| 44 | Colorado | $74,973 | $36.04 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $67,522 | $32.46 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $62,891 | $30.24 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $57,766 | $27.77 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $53,687 | $25.81 |
| 49 | Arizona | $69,357 | $33.34 |
| 50 | Maine | $60,190 | $28.94 |
| 51 | Florida | $51,198 | $24.61 |
Highest paying cities for chemist leads
The highest-paying cities for chemist leads are Pleasanton, CA, West Haven, CT, and Boston, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pleasanton, CA | $102,766 | $49.41 |
| 2 | West Haven, CT | $87,706 | $42.17 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $86,934 | $41.80 |
| 4 | Akron, OH | $85,853 | $41.28 |
| 5 | Morgantown, WV | $85,691 | $41.20 |
| 6 | Houston, TX | $80,714 | $38.80 |
| 7 | Rocky Mount, NC | $68,899 | $33.12 |
| 8 | Milwaukee, WI | $68,419 | $32.89 |
| 9 | Lancaster, PA | $67,840 | $32.62 |
| 10 | Coral Springs, FL | $49,933 | $24.01 |
Chemist lead salary details
A chemist lead's salary ranges from $59,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $117,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a chemist lead's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $117,000 | $9,750 | $56 |
| 75th Percentile | $99,000 | $8,250 | $48 |
| Average | $83,663 | $6,972 | $40 |
| 25th Percentile | $70,000 | $5,833 | $34 |
| 10th Percentile | $59,000 | $4,917 | $28 |
Highest paying chemist lead jobs
The highest paying types of chemist leads are senior research chemist, senior chemist, and analytical research chemist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research And Development Chemist | $77,233 | $6,436 | $37.13 | 100,225 |
| Analytical Research Chemist | $81,763 | $6,814 | $39.31 | 62,289 |
| 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 |
Top companies hiring chemist leads now:
Which companies pay chemist leads the most?
Chemist lead salaries at Momentive and Ecolab are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average chemist lead salary at companies like Quaker Houghton and Thermo Fisher Scientific are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Momentive | $97,110 | $46.69 |
| 2 | Ecolab | $95,634 | $45.98 |
| 3 | Quaker Houghton | $93,057 | $44.74 |
| 4 | Thermo Fisher Scientific | $92,792 | $44.61 |
| 5 | California Medical Association | $89,713 | $43.13 |
| 6 | Henkel | $84,924 | $40.83 |
| 7 | EMSL Analytical | $80,158 | $38.54 |
| 8 | Brady | $79,410 | $38.18 |
| 9 | Bridgestone | $77,034 | $37.04 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Chemist Lead salary by industry
The average chemist lead salary varies across industries:
- The average chemist lead salary in the health care industry is $96,666, the highest of any industry.
- The average chemist lead salary in the finance industry is $92,451.
- Chemist leads in the internet industry earn an average salary of $78,304, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for chemist leads
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Health Care | $96,666 | $46.47 |
| 2 | Manufacturing | $92,451 | $44.45 |
| 3 | Energy | $81,916 | $39.38 |
| 4 | Pharmaceutical | $80,857 | $38.87 |
| 5 | Internet | $78,304 | $37.65 |
High paying chemist lead jobs
Chemist lead salary trends
The average chemist lead salary has risen by $10,065 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average chemist lead earned $73,598 annually, but today, they earn $83,663 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for chemist leads over the last decade.
Compare chemist lead salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average chemist lead salary over time
Compare chemist lead salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Chemist lead salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $83,700 | $40.22 | +2.1% |
| 2025 | $81,900 | $39.38 | +1.0% |
| 2024 | $81,100 | $39.00 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | $78,900 | $37.91 | +1.3% |
| 2022 | $77,800 | $37.40 | +3.4% |
Recently added chemist lead salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ecolab Inc. | Lead Chemist | Naperville, IL | 06/06/2025 | $94,100 |
| Actalent | Lead Chemist | Charlotte, NC | 05/28/2025 | $62,610 |
| Ecolab USA | Lead Chemist | Naperville, IL | 05/25/2025 | $94,100 |
| Eurofins Horti | Hplc-Lead Chemist | Ione, CA | 03/31/2025 | $60,000 |
| Actalent | Lead Chemist | Portland, OR | 03/27/2025 | $72,000 |
| Eurofins Scientific | Hplc-Lead Chemist | Ione, CA | 03/14/2025 | $60,000 |
| Eurofins USA PSS Insourcing Solutions | Hplc-Lead Chemist | Firebaugh, CA | 03/14/2025 | $60,000 |
| University of Michigan | Computational Chemist Lead | Ann Arbor, MI | 02/18/2025 | $90,000 |
| Belcher Pharmaceuticals, LLC | Lead Chemist | Largo, FL | 01/29/2025 | $92,206 |
| Belcher Pharmaceuticals, LLC | Lead Chemist | Largo, FL | 01/29/2025 | $92,206 |
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