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Chemist: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$91,240median pay per year, or $43.87 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $58,460lowest 10% earn less
  2. $69,46025th percentile
  3. $91,240median
  4. $125,55075th percentile
  5. $160,830top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

A chemist typically needs a bachelor's degree, and the median chemist wage was $91,240 a year in May 2025[1][2]. Jobs are projected to grow 6.4% from 2025 to 2035[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+6.4%[3]
Openings per year
5,900[6]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[2]

How much do chemists make?

The median wage for chemists was $91,240 a year, or $43.87 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of chemists earned more and half earned less. The average was higher, at $100,450 a year, or $48.29 an hour[7].

The middle of the range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $58,460 a year, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $69,460[4][8]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $125,550, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $160,830[4]. In hourly terms, those boundaries were $28.11, $33.39, $60.36 and $77.32[9]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[8].

For comparison, the median annual wage for all occupations was $50,980[5]. These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits[10]. About 82,770 people held chemist jobs on that basis[11].

Pay by state and city

The District of Columbia had the highest median wage for chemists at $149,860, followed by Maryland at $140,670 and Delaware at $129,860[12]. Montana had the lowest listed median at $61,890[12].

California had the most chemist jobs at 9,820, followed by Pennsylvania at 6,800, New Jersey at 5,280, Texas at 5,130 and North Carolina at 4,530[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs[14], the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria area had the highest median at $144,680. Bay City, MI came next at $132,480, then Lake Charles, LA at $128,330[14]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs at 6,750, with a median of $85,150[15].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
District of Columbia[12]$149,860280
Maryland$140,6702,480
Delaware$129,8601,200
New Mexico$126,960280
Massachusetts$125,0003,430
Alaska$106,01060
Oregon$104,590730
Louisiana$103,890740
Wyoming$102,00080
Colorado$101,9801,790
Rhode Island$101,660150
New Hampshire$100,050300
Texas$99,6405,130
Minnesota$99,2801,680
Connecticut$98,1401,170
California$97,8609,820
Alabama$97,830700
Michigan$97,4403,490
Washington$97,4202,280
North Dakota$97,330160
Virginia$96,6501,640
Georgia$92,7501,260
New York$90,6004,230
Tennessee$87,930960
Vermont$86,12080
Iowa$86,100570
West Virginia$85,560180
Ohio$85,2704,010
Illinois$85,2303,040
New Jersey$84,4505,280
Hawaii$84,150140
Kentucky$84,090530
Kansas$82,820690
Missouri$82,8001,640
Florida$82,7401,490
North Carolina$82,6204,530
Arizona$81,730870
Nevada$81,170280
Utah$80,770910
Mississippi$80,060200
South Carolina$79,670770
Indiana$78,7702,480
Wisconsin$78,7301,920
Idaho$78,000320
Pennsylvania$77,0906,800
Arkansas$75,570380
Oklahoma$74,960630
Nebraska$74,890350
South Dakota$67,440170
Maine$64,440140
Montana$61,890300

How to become a chemist

BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical education for entry. It lists no related work experience and no on-the-job training as typical[2]. The path looks like this:

Graduate programs often focus on a subfield such as analytical or inorganic chemistry[21]. Combined programs that give a bachelor's and master's on a faster schedule also exist[22].

In an O*NET survey of 20 workers, 56% said a bachelor's degree was the level required, 30% said a doctoral degree and 10% said a master's degree[23]. The training details above come from a BLS profile that covers chemists together with materials scientists, so it describes a wider group[24].

With experience, chemists typically get more responsibility and independence[25]. Chemists with a Ph.D. may lead research teams[26]. Some move into natural sciences manager roles[27].

What chemists do

Chemists run lab analyses and experiments for quality control or to develop new products and knowledge[28]. Typical tasks include:

Workers report job titles such as analytical chemist, forensic chemist, product development chemist and quality control chemist[30].

Where they work

Chemists usually work in laboratories and offices. Some work in industrial plants[31]. Among chemists and materials scientists together, chemical manufacturing was the largest employer at 33%[32]. Those working for manufacturers with several sites may travel now and then[33].

Handling chemicals can bring health or safety hazards, so workers wear protective gear and follow safety rules[34]. Most work full time, and sometimes they put in extra hours for deadlines or time-sensitive experiments[35]. Only 0.3% of chemists were self-employed in 2025[36].

Job outlook

BLS projects chemist employment to grow 6.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 84,900 to 90,300 jobs[3]. Growth for all occupations is projected at 3.5%[37]. That count includes self-employed workers, so it differs from the wage survey count[3].

About 5,900 openings are projected each year on average[6]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 1.4% of chemists leave the labor force and 4.7% move to a different occupation[38].

Is it a good fit?

The facts point to a job that typically starts with a bachelor's degree and pays above the all-occupations median[2][1][5]. Pay varies widely, with the top 10% earning more than $160,830[4]. Work is mostly lab-based and full time[31][35]. Some jobs, such as research roles, may call for a master's degree or Ph.D.[20]. Growth is projected to run ahead of the all-occupations rate[3][37].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[39].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a chemist make an hour?
The median was $43.87 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $48.29[1][7].
What degree do you need to be a chemist?
A bachelor's degree is the typical entry education[2]. Some jobs, such as research positions, may need a master's degree or Ph.D.[20].
Is chemist a growing job?
BLS projects 6.4% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[3][37].
What is the highest paying state for chemists?
The District of Columbia had the highest median at $149,860, then Maryland at $140,670[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Chemists in the US was $91,240 per year and $43.87 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Chemists: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Chemists is projected to grow 6.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 84,900 to 90,300 jobs (a change of +5,500). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Chemists: 10th percentile $58,460, 25th percentile $69,460, 75th percentile $125,550, 90th percentile $160,830. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 5,900 openings for Chemists are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Chemists was $100,450 per year and $48.29 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Chemists: 10th percentile $28.11, 25th percentile $33.39, 75th percentile $60.36, 90th percentile $77.32. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 82,770 people were employed as Chemists in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Chemists in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Chemists jobs: California 9,820; Pennsylvania 6,800; New Jersey 5,280; Texas 5,130; North Carolina 4,530. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Chemists (areas with at least 100 jobs): Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $144,680; Bay City, MI $132,480; Lake Charles, LA $128,330; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $127,790; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $127,290; Albuquerque, NM $126,960; Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT $121,770; Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $118,880. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Chemists jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 6,750 (median $85,150); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 4,520 (median $95,440); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 3,190 (median $87,060); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 2,960 (median $127,290); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 2,630 (median $90,920); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 2,490 (median $144,680). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. O*NET 19-2031.00 survey of workers (20 respondents), education level they say is required: Bachelor's Degree 56%, Doctoral Degree 30%, Master's Degree 10% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  24. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Chemists and Materials Scientists" covers Chemists together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. O*NET description of Chemists. O*NET OnLine
  29. O*NET task list for Chemists. O*NET OnLine
  30. O*NET 19-2031.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Air Quality Chemist, Analytical Chemist, Chemical Lab Scientist (Chemical Laboratory Scientist), Chemist, Forensic Chemist, Product Development Chemist, QC Chemist (Quality Control Chemist), R and D Chemist (Research and Development Chemist). O*NET OnLine
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of chemists and materials scientists in 2025: Chemical manufacturing 33%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  36. BLS Employment Projections: 0.3% of Chemists were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  37. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  38. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Chemists: 1.4% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.7% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  39. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.