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Principal chemist salary
Average principal chemist salary
$74,065
Understanding Principal Chemist Salaries
The role of a Principal Chemist is critical in many sectors, ranging from pharmaceuticals to environmental testing. According to data from Zippia, the average salary for a Principal Chemist is $74,065 annually, translating to about $36 per hour. However, salaries can fluctuate based on various factors, including geographic location, industry type, and years of experience.
For instance, states like California and Massachusetts tend to offer higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for skilled professionals. Moreover, Principal Chemists with specialized skills or advanced degrees can command higher wages. Career advancement in this field often leads to significant salary increases, especially in managerial or supervisory roles.
To maximize earning potential, individuals should consider the specific industries they are targeting and where they plan to work. By understanding the salary landscape and the factors that influence compensation, aspiring Principal Chemists can make informed decisions about their career paths.
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Where can a Principal Chemist earn more?
Principal chemist salary estimates from across the web
Average principal chemist salary by state
The average principal chemist salary in Washington, Delaware, and Oklahoma are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average principal chemist salary states are North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for principal chemists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $93,352 | $44.88 |
| 2 | Delaware | $96,692 | $46.49 |
| 3 | Texas | $81,546 | $39.20 |
| 4 | Tennessee | $85,744 | $41.22 |
| 5 | Virginia | $79,293 | $38.12 |
| 6 | Washington | $99,848 | $48.00 |
| 7 | Oklahoma | $88,252 | $42.43 |
| 8 | Missouri | $79,834 | $38.38 |
| 9 | Ohio | $75,358 | $36.23 |
| 10 | Idaho | $74,555 | $35.84 |
| 11 | Maryland | $81,192 | $39.03 |
| 12 | New Mexico | $75,695 | $36.39 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $75,010 | $36.06 |
| 14 | Montana | $73,041 | $35.12 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $86,826 | $41.74 |
| 16 | Michigan | $75,653 | $36.37 |
| 17 | Vermont | $82,587 | $39.71 |
| 18 | South Carolina | $75,273 | $36.19 |
| 19 | Utah | $78,198 | $37.60 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $73,494 | $35.33 |
| 21 | California | $87,127 | $41.89 |
| 22 | Indiana | $73,400 | $35.29 |
| 23 | Rhode Island | $77,556 | $37.29 |
| 24 | Kansas | $72,138 | $34.68 |
| 25 | Arizona | $69,144 | $33.24 |
| 26 | Nevada | $69,343 | $33.34 |
| 27 | Oregon | $69,650 | $33.49 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $70,073 | $33.69 |
| 29 | Alaska | $75,978 | $36.53 |
| 30 | Iowa | $72,375 | $34.80 |
| 31 | Colorado | $70,988 | $34.13 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $65,946 | $31.70 |
| 33 | Georgia | $70,371 | $33.83 |
| 34 | Illinois | $66,174 | $31.81 |
| 35 | Connecticut | $67,270 | $32.34 |
| 36 | Alabama | $66,226 | $31.84 |
| 37 | Massachusetts | $72,782 | $34.99 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $68,538 | $32.95 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $61,917 | $29.77 |
| 40 | Pennsylvania | $56,802 | $27.31 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $66,028 | $31.74 |
| 42 | Wisconsin | $60,971 | $29.31 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $58,351 | $28.05 |
| 44 | New York | $58,674 | $28.21 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $57,394 | $27.59 |
| 46 | North Dakota | $62,249 | $29.93 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $59,396 | $28.56 |
| 48 | Wyoming | $52,844 | $25.41 |
| 49 | Florida | $46,257 | $22.24 |
| 50 | Maine | $52,547 | $25.26 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $49,174 | $23.64 |
Highest paying cities for principal chemists
The highest-paying cities for principal chemists are Richland, WA, Bridgewater, NJ, and Thousand Oaks, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richland, WA | $98,781 | $47.49 |
| 2 | Bridgewater, NJ | $86,933 | $41.79 |
| 3 | Thousand Oaks, CA | $84,581 | $40.66 |
| 4 | Houston, TX | $79,990 | $38.46 |
| 5 | Cambridge, MA | $72,413 | $34.81 |
| 6 | Eagan, MN | $70,378 | $33.84 |
| 7 | Tempe, AZ | $69,235 | $33.29 |
| 8 | Naperville, IL | $66,221 | $31.84 |
| 9 | Lancaster, PA | $57,048 | $27.43 |
| 10 | Carolina, PR | $56,193 | $27.02 |
| 11 | Amherst, NY | $56,015 | $26.93 |
Principal chemist salary details
A principal chemist's salary ranges from $52,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $105,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a principal chemist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $105,000 | $8,750 | $50 |
| 75th Percentile | $89,000 | $7,417 | $43 |
| Average | $74,065 | $6,172 | $36 |
| 25th Percentile | $61,000 | $5,083 | $29 |
| 10th Percentile | $52,000 | $4,333 | $25 |
Highest paying principal chemist jobs
The highest paying types of principal 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 |
| Quality Control Chemist | $58,892 | $4,908 | $28.31 | 90,467 |
| Analytical Research Chemist | $81,763 | $6,814 | $39.31 | 62,289 |
| Quality Assurance Chemist | $59,242 | $4,937 | $28.48 | 66,457 |
| Laboratory Chemist | $62,702 | $5,225 | $30.15 | 41,322 |
Top companies hiring principal chemists now:
Which companies pay principal chemists the most?
Principal chemist salaries at Edwards Lifesciences and Nalco Holding Company are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average principal chemist salary at companies like TÜV SÜD America and Ingredion are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edwards Lifesciences | $103,980 | $49.99 |
| 2 | Nalco Holding Company | $102,344 | $49.20 |
| 3 | TÜV SÜD America | $99,965 | $48.06 |
| 4 | Ingredion | $95,028 | $45.69 |
| 5 | Air Products | $92,177 | $44.32 |
| 6 | Ecolab | $89,714 | $43.13 |
| 7 | Eli Lilly and Company | $89,700 | $43.13 |
| 8 | Amgen | $86,162 | $41.42 |
| 9 | Boston Scientific | $85,762 | $41.23 |
| 10 | BWX Technologies | $82,175 | $39.51 |
| 11 | Nuclear Fuel Services | $81,195 | $39.04 |
| 12 | Virbac | $73,997 | $35.58 |
| 13 | Columbia Energy & Environmental Services | $73,084 | $35.14 |
| 14 | IIMAK | $72,015 | $34.62 |
| 15 | Eurofins | $67,171 | $32.29 |
| 16 | Lancaster | $66,897 | $32.16 |
| 17 | Lilly & Company | $66,520 | $31.98 |
| 18 | G&W Laboratories | $65,080 | $31.29 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Principal chemist salary trends
The average principal chemist salary has risen by $8,911 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average principal chemist earned $65,154 annually, but today, they earn $74,065 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for principal chemists over the last decade.
Compare principal chemist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average principal chemist salary over time
Compare principal chemist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Principal chemist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $74,100 | $35.61 | +2.1% |
| 2025 | $72,500 | $34.86 | +1.0% |
| 2024 | $71,800 | $34.53 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | $69,800 | $33.56 | +1.3% |
| 2022 | $68,900 | $33.11 | +3.4% |
Recently added principal chemist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eli Lilly and Company | Senior/Principal Chemist-Process Chemistry Oligonucleotides (Smdd) | Gas City, IN | 06/25/2025 | $63,000 |
| Lilly | Senior/Principal Chemist-Process Chemistry Oligonucleotides (Smdd) | Indianapolis, IN | 06/24/2025 | $63,000 |
| Ecolab | Principal Chemist | Naperville, IL | 06/20/2025 | $83,600 |
| Medtronic Inc. | Principal Chemist-Cleaning & Reprocessing | North Haven, CT | 06/14/2025 | $132,000 |
| Ecolab | Principal Chemist | Naperville, IL | 05/27/2025 | $83,600 |
| Eli Lilly and Company | SR./Principal Chemist-QC-Iapi (Esystems) | Indianapolis, IN | 05/22/2025 | $63,000 |
| Eli Lilly and Company | Principal Chemist | Pleasant Prairie, WI | 05/13/2025 | $63,000 |
| Lilly | SR./Principal Chemist-QC-Iapi (Esystems) | Indianapolis, IN | 05/02/2025 | $63,000 |
| Eli Lilly and Company | SR. Principal Chemist | Parkton, NC | 04/02/2025 | $63,000 |
| Eli Lilly and Company | Principal Chemist-QC | Concord, NC | 03/30/2025 | $63,000 |
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