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Chief chemist salary
Average chief chemist salary
$82,641
Understanding Chief Chemist Salaries
As of October 2025, the average salary for a Chief Chemist is approximately $82,641 per year or $40 per hour. This figure varies based on several factors, including geographical location, years of experience, and industry sector. For instance, Chief Chemists in states like California and New York tend to earn higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for skilled professionals.
In addition to base salary, many Chief Chemists receive benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and bonuses. The role typically requires advanced education, often a master’s degree or higher, along with several years of experience in the field. Career advancement opportunities include positions such as Laboratory Director or Senior Research Scientist, which can lead to even higher compensation.
Highest Paying Chief Chemist Jobs
- Senior Chief Chemist - $95,000+
- Research and Development Manager - $90,000+
- Quality Control Director - $88,000+
Understanding these salary dynamics can help current and prospective Chief Chemists make informed career decisions and negotiate effectively for their next opportunity.
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Where can a Chief Chemist earn more?
Chief chemist salary estimates from across the web
Average chief chemist salary by state
The average chief chemist salary in Delaware, New Jersey, and Washington are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average chief chemist salary states are Hawaii, Nebraska, and Maine.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for chief chemists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $106,917 | $51.40 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $101,798 | $48.94 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $96,732 | $46.51 |
| 4 | Washington | $92,393 | $44.42 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $88,898 | $42.74 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $89,166 | $42.87 |
| 7 | Maryland | $87,995 | $42.31 |
| 8 | New York | $86,907 | $41.78 |
| 9 | Virginia | $85,755 | $41.23 |
| 10 | Vermont | $85,845 | $41.27 |
| 11 | Tennessee | $86,777 | $41.72 |
| 12 | Michigan | $81,494 | $39.18 |
| 13 | California | $85,839 | $41.27 |
| 14 | Oklahoma | $87,976 | $42.30 |
| 15 | Ohio | $80,362 | $38.64 |
| 16 | New Mexico | $80,035 | $38.48 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $79,896 | $38.41 |
| 18 | South Carolina | $78,331 | $37.66 |
| 19 | Arizona | $74,135 | $35.64 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $75,729 | $36.41 |
| 21 | Nevada | $74,023 | $35.59 |
| 22 | Utah | $74,460 | $35.80 |
| 23 | Indiana | $76,388 | $36.73 |
| 24 | Missouri | $79,208 | $38.08 |
| 25 | Iowa | $72,312 | $34.77 |
| 26 | Kentucky | $75,904 | $36.49 |
| 27 | Texas | $71,353 | $34.30 |
| 28 | Oregon | $68,111 | $32.75 |
| 29 | New Hampshire | $73,575 | $35.37 |
| 30 | Alaska | $62,032 | $29.82 |
| 31 | Georgia | $72,182 | $34.70 |
| 32 | Pennsylvania | $65,104 | $31.30 |
| 33 | Kansas | $70,339 | $33.82 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $69,188 | $33.26 |
| 35 | Alabama | $67,737 | $32.57 |
| 36 | Illinois | $68,850 | $33.10 |
| 37 | Minnesota | $64,566 | $31.04 |
| 38 | Wisconsin | $63,406 | $30.48 |
| 39 | Idaho | $69,006 | $33.18 |
| 40 | Montana | $62,142 | $29.88 |
| 41 | Colorado | $66,786 | $32.11 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $56,705 | $27.26 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $68,093 | $32.74 |
| 44 | North Carolina | $63,477 | $30.52 |
| 45 | Wyoming | $47,167 | $22.68 |
| 46 | Maine | $50,796 | $24.42 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $61,379 | $29.51 |
| 48 | Florida | $47,668 | $22.92 |
| 49 | North Dakota | $57,884 | $27.83 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $56,075 | $26.96 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $46,491 | $22.35 |
Highest paying cities for chief chemists
The highest-paying cities for chief chemists are Seattle, WA, Rancho Cucamonga, CA, and Palm Desert, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $92,863 | $44.65 |
| 2 | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | $82,138 | $39.49 |
| 3 | Palm Desert, CA | $80,728 | $38.81 |
| 4 | Safford, AZ | $73,413 | $35.29 |
| 5 | Tucson, AZ | $73,080 | $35.13 |
| 6 | Houston, TX | $69,853 | $33.58 |
| 7 | Jeanerette, LA | $68,418 | $32.89 |
| 8 | Bethlehem, PA | $65,481 | $31.48 |
| 9 | Fort Morgan, CO | $65,425 | $31.45 |
Chief chemist salary details
A chief chemist's salary ranges from $54,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $125,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a chief chemist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $125,000 | $10,417 | $60 |
| 75th Percentile | $103,000 | $8,583 | $50 |
| Average | $82,641 | $6,887 | $40 |
| 25th Percentile | $66,000 | $5,500 | $32 |
| 10th Percentile | $54,000 | $4,500 | $26 |
Highest paying chief chemist jobs
The highest paying types of chief 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 |
| Analytical Research Chemist | $81,763 | $6,814 | $39.31 | 62,289 |
| Quality Control Chemist | $58,892 | $4,908 | $28.31 | 90,467 |
| Laboratory Chemist | $62,702 | $5,225 | $30.15 | 41,322 |
| Quality Assurance Chemist | $59,242 | $4,937 | $28.48 | 66,457 |
Top companies hiring chief chemists now:
Which companies pay chief chemists the most?
Chief chemist salaries at Freeport-McMoRan and Oldcastle Infrastructure are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average chief chemist salary at companies like Critical Care Systems International, Inc. and M.A.Patout & Son are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Freeport-McMoRan | $95,009 | $45.68 |
| 2 | Oldcastle Infrastructure | $82,823 | $39.82 |
| 3 | Critical Care Systems International, Inc. | $73,012 | $35.10 |
| 4 | M.A.Patout & Son | $71,692 | $34.47 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Chief chemist salary trends
The average chief chemist salary has risen by $9,942 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average chief chemist earned $72,699 annually, but today, they earn $82,641 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for chief chemists over the last decade.
Compare chief chemist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average chief chemist salary over time
Compare chief chemist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Chief chemist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $82,600 | $39.73 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $80,900 | $38.89 | +1.0% |
| 2023 | $80,100 | $38.52 | +2.8% |
| 2022 | $77,900 | $37.45 | +1.3% |
| 2021 | $76,800 | $36.95 | +3.4% |
Recently added chief chemist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solufilms, LLC | Chief Chemist | Palm Desert, CA | 06/12/2024 | $125,000 |
| Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold Inc. | Chief Chemist | Green Valley, AZ | 05/14/2024 | $93,000 |
| Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold Inc. | Chief Chemist | Green Valley, AZ | 05/14/2024 | $93,000 |
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