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Laboratory chemist salary
Average laboratory chemist salary
$62,702
Understanding Laboratory Chemist Salaries
The average Laboratory Chemist salary is around $62,702 per year. This reflects not only the demand for skilled chemists but also the essential contributions they make in various sectors, including pharmaceuticals, environmental science, and food safety. Salaries can fluctuate based on several factors:
- Location: States like California and Massachusetts often offer higher salaries due to the cost of living and industry concentration.
- Experience: Entry-level positions may start lower, but experienced chemists can earn over $80,000 annually.
- Industry: Chemists in healthcare and biotechnology typically command higher salaries compared to those in academia or government roles.
Moreover, the demand for chemists continues to rise, with job opportunities expected to grow as industries seek expertise in research and development. For those considering a career in this field, understanding these salary dynamics can guide informed decisions about education and specialization.
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Where can a Laboratory Chemist earn more?
Laboratory chemist salary estimates from across the web
Average laboratory chemist salary by state
The highest-paying states for laboratory chemists are Virginia, Vermont, and Delaware. The lowest average laboratory chemist salary states are Oregon, Arkansas, and Florida.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for laboratory chemists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | $84,204 | $40.48 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $75,837 | $36.46 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $75,908 | $36.49 |
| 4 | Maryland | $75,379 | $36.24 |
| 5 | Delaware | $84,144 | $40.45 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $65,907 | $31.69 |
| 7 | California | $69,645 | $33.48 |
| 8 | Virginia | $89,280 | $42.92 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $71,630 | $34.44 |
| 10 | Tennessee | $68,282 | $32.83 |
| 11 | Ohio | $63,989 | $30.76 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $73,590 | $35.38 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $59,634 | $28.67 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $61,571 | $29.60 |
| 15 | Iowa | $59,096 | $28.41 |
| 16 | District of Columbia | $80,843 | $38.87 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $63,156 | $30.36 |
| 18 | Oklahoma | $69,294 | $33.31 |
| 19 | New Mexico | $59,654 | $28.68 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $59,924 | $28.81 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $56,555 | $27.19 |
| 22 | New York | $59,867 | $28.78 |
| 23 | South Carolina | $60,850 | $29.25 |
| 24 | Kansas | $58,114 | $27.94 |
| 25 | Texas | $59,991 | $28.84 |
| 26 | Michigan | $56,438 | $27.13 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $57,581 | $27.68 |
| 28 | Utah | $57,378 | $27.59 |
| 29 | Washington | $55,888 | $26.87 |
| 30 | Montana | $56,454 | $27.14 |
| 31 | Missouri | $56,371 | $27.10 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $52,841 | $25.40 |
| 33 | Idaho | $54,202 | $26.06 |
| 34 | Colorado | $58,314 | $28.04 |
| 35 | Indiana | $54,360 | $26.13 |
| 36 | Georgia | $57,000 | $27.40 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $57,950 | $27.86 |
| 38 | Maine | $50,835 | $24.44 |
| 39 | Alaska | $52,155 | $25.07 |
| 40 | Illinois | $53,623 | $25.78 |
| 41 | Alabama | $52,987 | $25.47 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $53,628 | $25.78 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $48,830 | $23.48 |
| 44 | Oregon | $50,134 | $24.10 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $40,386 | $19.42 |
| 46 | Arizona | $50,419 | $24.24 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $52,545 | $25.26 |
| 48 | Nevada | $50,819 | $24.43 |
| 49 | Florida | $48,313 | $23.23 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $47,763 | $22.96 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $42,354 | $20.36 |
Highest paying cities for laboratory chemists
The highest-paying cities for laboratory chemists are Nutley, NJ, Boston, MA, and San Francisco, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nutley, NJ | $76,097 | $36.59 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $75,850 | $36.47 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $74,302 | $35.72 |
| 4 | Providence, RI | $73,660 | $35.41 |
| 5 | Windsor, CT | $71,410 | $34.33 |
| 6 | Bloomington, MN | $61,585 | $29.61 |
| 7 | San Antonio, TX | $60,393 | $29.04 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $59,998 | $28.85 |
| 9 | West Allis, WI | $59,891 | $28.79 |
| 10 | Winston-Salem, NC | $57,754 | $27.77 |
| 11 | Murray, UT | $57,250 | $27.52 |
| 12 | Lancaster, PA | $56,436 | $27.13 |
| 13 | Anderson, IN | $54,605 | $26.25 |
| 14 | Elk Grove Village, IL | $53,677 | $25.81 |
| 15 | Shreveport, LA | $53,503 | $25.72 |
| 16 | Las Vegas, NV | $50,515 | $24.29 |
| 17 | Riviera Beach, FL | $48,117 | $23.13 |
Laboratory chemist salary details
A laboratory chemist's salary ranges from $45,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $86,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a laboratory chemist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $86,000 | $7,167 | $41 |
| 75th Percentile | $74,000 | $6,167 | $36 |
| Average | $62,702 | $5,225 | $30 |
| 25th Percentile | $52,000 | $4,333 | $25 |
| 10th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
Highest paying laboratory chemist jobs
The highest paying types of laboratory chemists are senior chemist, research and development chemist, and research chemist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research Technician | $43,034 | $3,586 | $20.69 | 64,786 |
| Chemical Technician | $42,584 | $3,549 | $20.47 | 40,191 |
| Quality Control Analyst | $59,217 | $4,935 | $28.47 | 85,546 |
| Quality Control | $32,824 | $2,735 | $15.78 | 83,496 |
| Microbiologist | $54,620 | $4,552 | $26.26 | 11,444 |
| Research And Development Chemist | $77,233 | $6,436 | $37.13 | 100,225 |
Top companies hiring laboratory chemists now:
Which companies pay laboratory chemists the most?
Laboratory chemist salaries at BASF and Vertex Pharmaceuticals are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average laboratory chemist salary at companies like Harsco and Tyson Foods are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BASF | $89,315 | $42.94 |
| 2 | Vertex Pharmaceuticals | $83,894 | $40.33 |
| 3 | Harsco | $79,054 | $38.01 |
| 4 | Tyson Foods | $75,852 | $36.47 |
| 5 | The Travelers Companies | $67,082 | $32.25 |
| 6 | Shiseido | $63,819 | $30.68 |
| 7 | Electronic Interconnect Corp. | $61,025 | $29.34 |
| 8 | Prime Healthcare | $60,589 | $29.13 |
| 9 | San Antonio Water System | $60,552 | $29.11 |
| 10 | Michelin | $60,120 | $28.90 |
| 11 | Eurofins | $60,118 | $28.90 |
| 12 | University of California | $60,092 | $28.89 |
| 13 | US Ecology | $60,037 | $28.86 |
| 14 | Intertek USA, Inc. | $59,966 | $28.83 |
| 15 | The Independent Traveler | $59,963 | $28.83 |
| 16 | Noah & Co. | $59,937 | $28.82 |
| 17 | Goodyear | $59,882 | $28.79 |
| 18 | AmSpec Group | $59,811 | $28.76 |
| 19 | CHRISTUS Health | $59,642 | $28.67 |
| 20 | Bluestar Us | $58,920 | $28.33 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Laboratory Chemist salary by industry
The average laboratory chemist salary varies across industries:
- The average laboratory chemist salary in the manufacturing industry is $80,689, the highest of any industry.
- The average laboratory chemist salary in the finance industry is $75,187.
- Laboratory chemists in the internet industry earn an average salary of $60,012, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for laboratory chemists
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturing | $80,689 | $38.79 |
| 2 | Utilities | $75,187 | $36.15 |
| 3 | Technology | $72,687 | $34.95 |
| 4 | Energy | $64,887 | $31.20 |
| 5 | Pharmaceutical | $61,997 | $29.81 |
| 6 | Health Care | $61,480 | $29.56 |
| 7 | Internet | $60,012 | $28.85 |
High paying laboratory chemist jobs
Laboratory chemist salary trends
The average laboratory chemist salary has risen by $7,543 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average laboratory chemist earned $55,159 annually, but today, they earn $62,702 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for laboratory chemists over the last decade.
Compare laboratory chemist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average laboratory chemist salary over time
Compare laboratory chemist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Laboratory chemist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $62,700 | $30.15 | +2.1% |
| 2025 | $61,400 | $29.51 | +1.0% |
| 2024 | $60,800 | $29.23 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | $59,100 | $28.41 | +1.3% |
| 2022 | $58,300 | $28.03 | +3.4% |
Recently added laboratory chemist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eli Lilly and Company | Advisor-Kilo Lab Chemist Lilly Medicine Foundry | Indianapolis, IN | 06/26/2025 | $121,500 |
| Clean Harbors | Lab Chemist IV | Deer Trail, CO | 06/23/2025 | $47,375 |
| Axxella Staffing | Lab Pack Chemist With CDL | Baltimore, MD | 06/21/2025 | $62,610 |
| Tradebe | Lab Chemist-4Th Shift-Up To | East Chicago, IN | 06/18/2025 | $45,914 |
| Clean Harbors | Lab Chemist I | Chicago, IL | 06/17/2025 | $52,175 |
| Pima County, Az | Laboratory Chemist | Tucson, AZ | 06/14/2025 | $52,425 |
| Kelly Science, Engineering, Technology & Telecom | Laboratory Chemist | Englewood, CO | 06/12/2025 | $62,610 |
| University of California System | Lab AST 3 | Irvine, CA | 06/11/2025 | $54,262 |
| Global Channel Management, Inc. | Lab Chemist | Pasadena, CA | 06/10/2025 | $75,132 |
| Global Channel Management, Inc. | Lab Chemist | Madison Heights, MI | 06/10/2025 | $56,349 |
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