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Product development chemist salary
Average product development chemist salary
$73,084
Understanding Product Development Chemist Salaries
The role of a Product Development Chemist involves significant responsibilities, including formulating new products and enhancing existing ones. As of October 2025, the average salary for this position stands at $73,084 per year, equating to approximately $35 per hour. Salary levels can vary based on factors such as geographic location, experience, and industry.
Salary Variations by State
In states like California and New York, salaries for Product Development Chemists can exceed the national average, reflecting the higher cost of living and demand for skilled professionals. For example, the highest paying states typically offer salaries ranging from $80,000 to $90,000 annually.
Opportunities for Advancement
Factors influencing salary include years of experience, with entry-level positions starting lower than those with extensive experience. By advancing into roles such as Senior Chemist or Product Manager, individuals can significantly boost their earning potential. The industry also plays a crucial role; fields like pharmaceuticals often offer higher salaries compared to other sectors.
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Where can a Product Development Chemist earn more?
Product development chemist salary estimates from across the web
Average product development chemist salary by state
The average product development chemist salary in Washington, Delaware, and Maryland are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average product development chemist salary states are Florida, Arkansas, and Nebraska.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for product development chemists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tennessee | $86,174 | $41.43 |
| 2 | Delaware | $102,728 | $49.39 |
| 3 | Washington | $107,586 | $51.72 |
| 4 | Maryland | $95,907 | $46.11 |
| 5 | Oklahoma | $86,738 | $41.70 |
| 6 | Michigan | $79,053 | $38.01 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $89,033 | $42.80 |
| 8 | Ohio | $78,667 | $37.82 |
| 9 | Alaska | $84,482 | $40.62 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $83,678 | $40.23 |
| 11 | Missouri | $79,581 | $38.26 |
| 12 | New Mexico | $75,734 | $36.41 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $78,663 | $37.82 |
| 14 | Vermont | $88,434 | $42.52 |
| 15 | Montana | $80,623 | $38.76 |
| 16 | District of Columbia | $99,091 | $47.64 |
| 17 | Texas | $73,853 | $35.51 |
| 18 | Indiana | $75,691 | $36.39 |
| 19 | Kentucky | $75,555 | $36.32 |
| 20 | Utah | $81,006 | $38.95 |
| 21 | New York | $84,361 | $40.56 |
| 22 | South Carolina | $76,326 | $36.70 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $78,540 | $37.76 |
| 24 | Virginia | $83,704 | $40.24 |
| 25 | Idaho | $80,306 | $38.61 |
| 26 | Georgia | $72,578 | $34.89 |
| 27 | New Jersey | $80,845 | $38.87 |
| 28 | Iowa | $73,159 | $35.17 |
| 29 | Nevada | $71,004 | $34.14 |
| 30 | Kansas | $71,296 | $34.28 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $68,061 | $32.72 |
| 32 | Pennsylvania | $66,697 | $32.07 |
| 33 | Connecticut | $78,446 | $37.71 |
| 34 | California | $78,053 | $37.53 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $68,378 | $32.87 |
| 36 | Arizona | $64,612 | $31.06 |
| 37 | North Carolina | $72,321 | $34.77 |
| 38 | Oregon | $73,676 | $35.42 |
| 39 | Colorado | $71,781 | $34.51 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $63,483 | $30.52 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $61,245 | $29.44 |
| 42 | Alabama | $65,907 | $31.69 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $65,240 | $31.37 |
| 44 | New Hampshire | $71,230 | $34.25 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $65,359 | $31.42 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $58,392 | $28.07 |
| 47 | Illinois | $69,515 | $33.42 |
| 48 | Florida | $61,367 | $29.50 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $51,016 | $24.53 |
| 50 | Wyoming | $55,736 | $26.80 |
| 51 | Maine | $52,348 | $25.17 |
Highest paying cities for product development chemists
The highest-paying cities for product development chemists are Vacaville, CA, Memphis, TN, and Pawtucket, RI.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacaville, CA | $87,102 | $41.88 |
| 2 | Memphis, TN | $84,748 | $40.74 |
| 3 | Pawtucket, RI | $83,297 | $40.05 |
| 4 | Saint Louis, MO | $81,161 | $39.02 |
| 5 | Bridgewater, NJ | $80,851 | $38.87 |
| 6 | Madison Heights, MI | $79,267 | $38.11 |
| 7 | Columbus, OH | $78,928 | $37.95 |
| 8 | Albuquerque, NM | $75,880 | $36.48 |
| 9 | Atlanta, GA | $73,020 | $35.11 |
| 10 | Charlotte, NC | $71,369 | $34.31 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $69,773 | $33.54 |
| 12 | Baton Rouge, LA | $65,325 | $31.41 |
| 13 | Phoenix, AZ | $64,775 | $31.14 |
Product development chemist salary details
A product development chemist's salary ranges from $51,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $103,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a product development chemist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $103,000 | $8,583 | $50 |
| 75th Percentile | $87,000 | $7,250 | $42 |
| Average | $73,084 | $6,090 | $35 |
| 25th Percentile | $60,000 | $5,000 | $29 |
| 10th Percentile | $51,000 | $4,250 | $25 |
Highest paying product development chemist jobs
The highest paying types of product development chemists are senior research chemist, senior chemist, and research and development scientist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemist | $64,961 | $5,413 | $31.23 | 20,221 |
| Quality Assurance Chemist | $59,242 | $4,937 | $28.48 | 66,457 |
| Quality Control Chemist | $58,892 | $4,908 | $28.31 | 90,467 |
| Analytical Chemist | $61,573 | $5,131 | $29.60 | 14,661 |
| Laboratory Chemist | $62,702 | $5,225 | $30.15 | 41,322 |
| Research Chemist | $75,843 | $6,320 | $36.46 | 53,769 |
Top companies hiring product development chemists now:
Which companies pay product development chemists the most?
Product development chemist salaries at Cargill and Albemarle are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average product development chemist salary at companies like Benjamin Moore and BASF are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cargill | $110,759 | $53.25 |
| 2 | Albemarle | $106,539 | $51.22 |
| 3 | Benjamin Moore | $99,515 | $47.84 |
| 4 | BASF | $95,023 | $45.68 |
| 5 | Ashland | $94,337 | $45.35 |
| 6 | Momentive | $93,517 | $44.96 |
| 7 | Hexion | $92,585 | $44.51 |
| 8 | PPG | $91,294 | $43.89 |
| 9 | ITW | $76,838 | $36.94 |
| 10 | Henkel | $75,058 | $36.09 |
| 11 | Adhesives Research | $74,963 | $36.04 |
| 12 | Teknor Apex | $73,754 | $35.46 |
| 13 | Franklin | $73,142 | $35.16 |
| 14 | Sensient Colors | $69,523 | $33.42 |
| 15 | Newell Brands | $68,604 | $32.98 |
| 16 | 3M Company | $65,442 | $31.46 |
| 17 | Arclin | $64,678 | $31.10 |
| 18 | h20 | $63,218 | $30.39 |
| 19 | Kremers Urban Pharmaceuticals | $62,991 | $30.28 |
| 20 | Emery Oleochemicals | $62,932 | $30.26 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Product Development Chemist salary by industry
The average product development chemist salary varies across industries:
- The average product development chemist salary in the manufacturing industry is $84,696, the highest of any industry.
- The average product development chemist salary in the finance industry is $72,857.
- Product development chemists in the retail industry earn an average salary of $62,601, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for product development chemists
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturing | $84,696 | $40.72 |
| 2 | Construction | $72,857 | $35.03 |
| 3 | Transportation | $68,325 | $32.85 |
| 4 | Finance | $65,342 | $31.41 |
| 5 | Pharmaceutical | $63,788 | $30.67 |
| 6 | Retail | $62,601 | $30.10 |
High paying product development chemist jobs
Product development chemist salary trends
The average product development chemist salary has risen by $8,792 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average product development chemist earned $64,292 annually, but today, they earn $73,084 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for product development chemists over the last decade.
Compare product development chemist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average product development chemist salary over time
Compare product development chemist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Product development chemist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $73,100 | $35.14 | +2.1% |
| 2025 | $71,500 | $34.40 | +1.0% |
| 2024 | $70,900 | $34.07 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | $68,900 | $33.12 | +1.3% |
| 2022 | $68,000 | $32.67 | +3.4% |
Recently added product development chemist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henkel | Product Development Epoxy Chemist | Rocky Hill, CT | 06/25/2025 | $120,000 |
| Threshold Enterprises | Natural Products Chemist | Scotts Valley, CA | 06/19/2025 | $70,000 |
| R&O Construction | Product Development Chemist | Romeoville, IL | 06/17/2025 | $121,600 |
| Roman | Product Development Chemist | Romeoville, IL | 06/14/2025 | $121,600 |
| Stepan Company | Product Development Chemist | Winnetka, IL | 06/07/2025 | $84,000 |
| Sunfly Brands, Inc. | Product Development Chemist | Seattle, WA | 04/25/2025 | $78,000 |
| Kelly Services | Senior Product Development Chemist (Food Industry) | San Fernando, CA | 04/13/2025 | $73,045 |
| Henkel | Product Development Chemist | Bridgewater, NJ | 04/09/2025 | $60,300 |
| Solectron Corp | Product Development Chemist/Engineer | Northfield, MN | 03/28/2025 | $60,700 |
| Flex | Product Development Chemist/Engineer | Northfield, MN | 03/02/2025 | $60,700 |
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