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As of October 2025, the average salary for a Formulation Chemist is approximately $66,678 per year, equating to about $32 per hour. This salary can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and industry sector. For example, Formulation Chemists in high-demand states often earn more than those in regions with lower demand.
The salary for Formulation Chemists can differ widely among states. For instance, states like California and New York typically offer higher wages due to a higher cost of living and greater demand for pharmaceutical and cosmetic products.
With a focus on product development, there are numerous opportunities for advancement in this field. Positions often lead to roles in management or specialized research, offering potential salary increases as experience grows. Understanding these dynamics can help you navigate your career path effectively.
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The highest-paying states for formulation chemists are Washington, Maryland, and Delaware. The lowest average formulation chemist salary states are Illinois, Wisconsin, and Nebraska.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $82,948 | $39.88 |
| 2 | Maryland | $85,159 | $40.94 |
| 3 | Washington | $93,503 | $44.95 |
| 4 | Tennessee | $79,621 | $38.28 |
| 5 | Missouri | $74,236 | $35.69 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $75,782 | $36.43 |
| 7 | Texas | $75,684 | $36.39 |
| 8 | Vermont | $79,660 | $38.30 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $72,847 | $35.02 |
| 10 | Utah | $73,106 | $35.15 |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $87,994 | $42.30 |
| 12 | Oklahoma | $81,559 | $39.21 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $72,190 | $34.71 |
| 14 | Ohio | $70,135 | $33.72 |
| 15 | New Mexico | $69,678 | $33.50 |
| 16 | California | $73,061 | $35.13 |
| 17 | Virginia | $74,514 | $35.82 |
| 18 | South Carolina | $70,682 | $33.98 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $70,329 | $33.81 |
| 20 | Idaho | $70,629 | $33.96 |
| 21 | Iowa | $66,726 | $32.08 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $68,435 | $32.90 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $70,471 | $33.88 |
| 24 | Indiana | $66,923 | $32.17 |
| 25 | Montana | $70,345 | $33.82 |
| 26 | Connecticut | $68,802 | $33.08 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $65,633 | $31.55 |
| 28 | Kansas | $67,196 | $32.31 |
| 29 | Oregon | $65,308 | $31.40 |
| 30 | New Hampshire | $62,785 | $30.19 |
| 31 | Alaska | $71,986 | $34.61 |
| 32 | Georgia | $68,029 | $32.71 |
| 33 | Colorado | $67,579 | $32.49 |
| 34 | Pennsylvania | $59,065 | $28.40 |
| 35 | Michigan | $62,222 | $29.91 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $60,070 | $28.88 |
| 37 | Wisconsin | $56,987 | $27.40 |
| 38 | Alabama | $62,054 | $29.83 |
| 39 | New York | $60,070 | $28.88 |
| 40 | Illinois | $57,239 | $27.52 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $57,535 | $27.66 |
| 42 | Nevada | $62,148 | $29.88 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $61,364 | $29.50 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $61,464 | $29.55 |
| 45 | Florida | $58,826 | $28.28 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $60,254 | $28.97 |
| 47 | Arizona | $58,310 | $28.03 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $54,804 | $26.35 |
| 49 | Maine | $47,294 | $22.74 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $46,169 | $22.20 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $51,040 | $24.54 |
The highest-paying cities for formulation chemists are Frederick, MD, Menlo Park, CA, and Smyrna, TN.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frederick, MD | $85,146 | $40.94 |
| 2 | Menlo Park, CA | $79,848 | $38.39 |
| 3 | Smyrna, TN | $79,739 | $38.34 |
| 4 | Fort Worth, TX | $77,206 | $37.12 |
| 5 | Pennsauken, NJ | $76,696 | $36.87 |
| 6 | Saint Louis, MO | $74,839 | $35.98 |
| 7 | Billerica, MA | $71,378 | $34.32 |
| 8 | Trumbull, CT | $69,224 | $33.28 |
| 9 | Boulder, CO | $67,569 | $32.49 |
| 10 | Lawrence, KS | $67,158 | $32.29 |
| 11 | Indianapolis, IN | $66,992 | $32.21 |
| 12 | Durham, NC | $66,080 | $31.77 |
| 13 | Ann Arbor, MI | $62,494 | $30.05 |
| 14 | New York, NY | $60,450 | $29.06 |
| 15 | Reading, PA | $59,180 | $28.45 |
| 16 | Phoenix, AZ | $58,506 | $28.13 |
| 17 | Chicago, IL | $57,489 | $27.64 |
A formulation chemist's salary ranges from $46,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $94,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $94,000 | $7,833 | $45 |
| 75th Percentile | $80,000 | $6,667 | $38 |
| Average | $66,678 | $5,557 | $32 |
| 25th Percentile | $55,000 | $4,583 | $26 |
| 10th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
The highest paying types of formulation chemists are senior scientist, scientist, and senior chemist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Postdoctoral Scholar | $57,587 | $4,799 | $27.69 | 18,983 |
| Quality Control Coordinator | $49,894 | $4,158 | $23.99 | 88,145 |
| Chemical Technician | $42,584 | $3,549 | $20.47 | 40,191 |
| Research Scientist | $89,998 | $7,500 | $43.27 | 93,013 |
| Scientist | $97,344 | $8,112 | $46.80 | 62,467 |
| Research And Development Scientist | $90,278 | $7,523 | $43.40 | 129,803 |
Top companies hiring formulation chemists now:
Formulation chemist salaries at Apple and Amyris are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average formulation chemist salary at companies like FMC and Ingredion are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apple | $112,305 | $53.99 |
| 2 | Amyris | $91,982 | $44.22 |
| 3 | FMC | $89,174 | $42.87 |
| 4 | Ingredion | $88,224 | $42.42 |
| 5 | Medline | $79,851 | $38.39 |
| 6 | Vi-Jon | $72,533 | $34.87 |
| 7 | PROSOCO | $71,437 | $34.34 |
| 8 | SRI International | $70,555 | $33.92 |
| 9 | Aerotek | $70,338 | $33.82 |
| 10 | Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc. | $70,189 | $33.74 |
| 11 | Central Garden & Pet | $67,255 | $32.33 |
| 12 | Authentix | $66,977 | $32.20 |
| 13 | Diversey | $66,559 | $32.00 |
| 14 | Kelly Services | $66,355 | $31.90 |
| 15 | Techtronic Industries TTI | $64,354 | $30.94 |
| 16 | Tergus Pharma | $64,279 | $30.90 |
| 17 | Materia | $64,112 | $30.82 |
| 18 | UTEX Industries | $64,079 | $30.81 |
| 19 | Monsanto | $63,733 | $30.64 |
| 20 | Vestaron | $63,716 | $30.63 |
The average formulation chemist salary has risen by $8,021 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average formulation chemist earned $58,657 annually, but today, they earn $66,678 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for formulation chemists over the last decade.
Compare formulation chemist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare formulation chemist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $66,700 | $32.06 | +2.1% |
| 2025 | $65,300 | $31.38 | +1.0% |
| 2024 | $64,700 | $31.08 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | $62,800 | $30.21 | +1.3% |
| 2022 | $62,000 | $29.81 | +3.4% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Actalent | Formulation Chemist | Greensboro, NC | 06/29/2025 | $70,000 |
| Global Channel Management, Inc. | Formulation Chemist | Darien, CT | 06/26/2025 | $79,306 |
| Actalent | Formulation Chemist | Green Bay, WI | 06/25/2025 | $83,480 |
| Ardex Laboratories, Inc. | Formulation Chemist | Philadelphia, PA | 06/12/2025 | $100,000 |
| Manufacturing Co | Formulation Chemist (Skincare & Cosmetics) | Corona, CA | 06/11/2025 | $55,000 |
| Research & Diagnostic Systems | Manufacturing Chemist-Formulation | Devens, MA | 06/09/2025 | $48,418 |
| Manufacturing Co | Formulation Chemist (Skincare & Cosmetics) | Corona, CA | 05/29/2025 | $55,000 |
| Ardex Laboratories, Inc. | Formulation Chemist | Philadelphia, PA | 05/28/2025 | $100,000 |
| Actalent | Formulations Chemist | Westlake, OH | 05/28/2025 | $62,610 |
| Bella Phytologic | Senior Formulation Chemist | Santa Rosa, CA | 05/25/2025 | $87,897 |
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