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Research and development chemist salary
Average research and development chemist salary
$77,233
Understanding Research and Development Chemist Salaries
The average salary for a Research and Development Chemist in the United States is approximately $77,233 annually. However, this figure can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, industry, and years of experience. For instance, chemists in states like California and Massachusetts often earn higher salaries compared to those in other regions.
Experience plays a crucial role in salary determination. Entry-level positions typically start lower, whereas those with several years of experience can command salaries exceeding $100,000. Industries such as pharmaceuticals and biotechnology tend to offer the highest compensation for R&D chemists.
In addition to salary, benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and opportunities for professional development should also be considered when evaluating job offers. As the demand for innovative solutions grows, the role of R&D chemists remains vital in various sectors, presenting numerous opportunities for career advancement.
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Where can a Research And Development Chemist earn more?
Research and development chemist salary estimates from across the web
Average research and development chemist salary by state
The average research and development chemist salary in Virginia, Delaware, and Vermont are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average research and development chemist salary states are Arkansas, Hawaii, and Wyoming.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for research and development chemists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | $84,870 | $40.80 |
| 2 | Delaware | $99,198 | $47.69 |
| 3 | Tennessee | $84,949 | $40.84 |
| 4 | Vermont | $92,741 | $44.59 |
| 5 | Virginia | $106,245 | $51.08 |
| 6 | Oklahoma | $87,863 | $42.24 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $78,455 | $37.72 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $85,199 | $40.96 |
| 9 | Ohio | $78,256 | $37.62 |
| 10 | New Mexico | $76,893 | $36.97 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $86,313 | $41.50 |
| 12 | Alaska | $84,175 | $40.47 |
| 13 | Idaho | $85,581 | $41.14 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $83,422 | $40.11 |
| 15 | West Virginia | $76,845 | $36.94 |
| 16 | Washington | $89,697 | $43.12 |
| 17 | Oregon | $79,869 | $38.40 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $95,844 | $46.08 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $74,870 | $36.00 |
| 20 | Montana | $83,326 | $40.06 |
| 21 | Connecticut | $83,501 | $40.14 |
| 22 | Iowa | $75,536 | $36.32 |
| 23 | Kansas | $73,581 | $35.38 |
| 24 | Kentucky | $74,576 | $35.85 |
| 25 | California | $76,718 | $36.88 |
| 26 | Missouri | $71,221 | $34.24 |
| 27 | Michigan | $69,122 | $33.23 |
| 28 | South Carolina | $74,225 | $35.69 |
| 29 | North Dakota | $68,286 | $32.83 |
| 30 | New Hampshire | $74,353 | $35.75 |
| 31 | Maryland | $82,755 | $39.79 |
| 32 | Nevada | $71,749 | $34.49 |
| 33 | Colorado | $77,048 | $37.04 |
| 34 | Pennsylvania | $65,213 | $31.35 |
| 35 | Georgia | $69,627 | $33.47 |
| 36 | Indiana | $67,578 | $32.49 |
| 37 | Arizona | $64,643 | $31.08 |
| 38 | Utah | $70,956 | $34.11 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $58,793 | $28.27 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $61,415 | $29.53 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $70,229 | $33.76 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $61,212 | $29.43 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $64,771 | $31.14 |
| 44 | Alabama | $64,990 | $31.25 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $52,502 | $25.24 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $64,570 | $31.04 |
| 47 | Illinois | $67,366 | $32.39 |
| 48 | Florida | $55,050 | $26.47 |
| 49 | New York | $68,244 | $32.81 |
| 50 | Wyoming | $58,198 | $27.98 |
| 51 | Maine | $54,938 | $26.41 |
Highest paying cities for research and development chemists
The highest-paying cities for research and development chemists are Richmond, VA, Santa Rosa, CA, and Dallas, TX.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richmond, VA | $106,315 | $51.11 |
| 2 | Santa Rosa, CA | $88,418 | $42.51 |
| 3 | Dallas, TX | $87,295 | $41.97 |
| 4 | Needham, MA | $86,393 | $41.54 |
| 5 | Oak Ridge, TN | $86,287 | $41.48 |
| 6 | East Brunswick, NJ | $83,521 | $40.15 |
| 7 | Eugene, OR | $81,167 | $39.02 |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $78,066 | $37.53 |
| 9 | Florence, KY | $75,534 | $36.31 |
| 10 | Milwaukee, WI | $75,185 | $36.15 |
| 11 | Kansas City, MO | $70,947 | $34.11 |
| 12 | Greenville, NC | $70,886 | $34.08 |
| 13 | New York, NY | $68,413 | $32.89 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $67,550 | $32.48 |
| 15 | Allentown, PA | $65,434 | $31.46 |
| 16 | Mesa, AZ | $64,638 | $31.08 |
| 17 | Miami Lakes, FL | $52,798 | $25.38 |
Research and development chemist salary details
A research and development chemist's salary ranges from $52,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $114,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a research and development chemist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $114,000 | $9,500 | $55 |
| 75th Percentile | $94,000 | $7,833 | $45 |
| Average | $77,233 | $6,436 | $37 |
| 25th Percentile | $62,000 | $5,167 | $30 |
| 10th Percentile | $52,000 | $4,333 | $25 |
Highest paying research and development chemist jobs
The highest paying types of research and development chemists are research and development manager, senior scientist, and scientist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Postdoctoral Scholar | $57,587 | $4,799 | $27.69 | 18,983 |
| Chemical Technician | $42,584 | $3,549 | $20.47 | 40,191 |
| Quality Control | $32,824 | $2,735 | $15.78 | 83,496 |
| Quality Control Analyst | $59,217 | $4,935 | $28.47 | 85,546 |
| Quality Control Coordinator | $49,894 | $4,158 | $23.99 | 88,145 |
| Laboratory Analyst | $44,024 | $3,669 | $21.17 | 44,074 |
Top companies hiring research and development chemists now:
Which companies pay research and development chemists the most?
Research and development chemist salaries at Sandia National Labs and Agilent Technologies are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average research and development chemist salary at companies like SAS Institute and Bunge are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sandia National Labs | $113,607 | $54.62 |
| 2 | Agilent Technologies | $105,714 | $50.82 |
| 3 | SAS Institute | $105,659 | $50.80 |
| 4 | Bunge | $105,499 | $50.72 |
| 5 | Oak Ridge National Laboratory | $103,956 | $49.98 |
| 6 | Albemarle | $103,786 | $49.90 |
| 7 | Afton Chemical | $103,781 | $49.89 |
| 8 | VMware | $103,462 | $49.74 |
| 9 | NewMarket | $103,393 | $49.71 |
| 10 | FUJIFILM Medical Systems USA | $102,383 | $49.22 |
| 11 | Alvogen | $100,362 | $48.25 |
| 12 | Halliburton | $99,223 | $47.70 |
| 13 | Celanese | $98,722 | $47.46 |
| 14 | The Dow Chemical Company | $98,109 | $47.17 |
| 15 | Amphastar Pharmaceuticals | $97,985 | $47.11 |
| 16 | Dassault Systèmes | $97,117 | $46.69 |
| 17 | W. R. Grace & Co | $96,412 | $46.35 |
| 18 | American Water | $95,735 | $46.03 |
| 19 | FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies | $95,163 | $45.75 |
| 20 | Hexion | $93,404 | $44.91 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Research and development chemist salary trends
The average research and development chemist salary has risen by $9,292 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average research and development chemist earned $67,941 annually, but today, they earn $77,233 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for research and development chemists over the last decade.
Compare research and development chemist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average research and development chemist salary over time
Compare research and development chemist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Research and development chemist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $77,200 | $37.13 | +2.1% |
| 2025 | $75,600 | $36.35 | +1.0% |
| 2024 | $74,900 | $36.00 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | $72,800 | $35.00 | +1.3% |
| 2022 | $71,800 | $34.53 | +3.4% |
Recently added research and development chemist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| H.B. Fuller | R&D Chemist-Adhesives | Troy, MI | 06/30/2025 | $80,000 |
| Accupac | R&D Formulation Chemist | Kane, PA | 06/27/2025 | $58,000 |
| Actalent | Assistant R&D Chemist | Burlington, WI | 06/27/2025 | $60,000 |
| Heraeus Holding | R&D Chemist | Santa Fe Springs, CA | 06/23/2025 | $75,000 |
| Element Solutions Inc. | R&D Chemist II | Shelton, CT | 06/13/2025 | $78,906 |
| Kelly Services | SN R&D Chemist-Cosmetics | Miami, FL | 06/12/2025 | $80,000 |
| Rhode Skin | Senior R&D Chemist | Los Angeles, CA | 06/09/2025 | $120,000 |
| Adecco | Research and Development Chemist | Coolidge, AZ | 05/28/2025 | $72,000 |
| Cypress HCM | Research and Development Chemist | Carson, CA | 05/28/2025 | $52,175 |
| Rhode Skin | Senior R&D Chemist | Los Angeles, CA | 05/28/2025 | $120,000 |
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