Cannabis10% remote-eligible+18.5% YoY growth

Cannabis Chemist Salary
by City (2026)

Test cannabis products for potency, purity, and contaminants to ensure safety standards. National median: $72K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$72K

Top 10% earn

$132K

Entry level

$52K

Salary growth

+18.5%/yr

Cannabis Chemist salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$78K	$108K	$147K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$75K	$104K	$142K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$73K	$101K	$137K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$72K	$100K	$137K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$72K	$100K	$137K	185	11%
Oakland, CA	$72K	$99K	$135K	185	9.3%
Washington, DC	$72K	$99K	$135K	152	8.5%
Bellevue, WA	$70K	$97K	$132K	175	None ✓
Jersey City, NJ	$70K	$97K	$132K	162	10.75%
Irvine, CA	$69K	$96K	$131K	172	9.3%
Los Angeles, CA	$68K	$94K	$127K	163	9.3%
Yonkers, NY	$68K	$94K	$128K	165	6.85%
Seattle, WA	$68K	$94K	$127K	150	None ✓
Boston, MA	$68K	$94K	$127K	162	5%
Arlington, VA	$68K	$94K	$127K	148	5.75%
Bethesda, MD	$68K	$94K	$128K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$67K	$93K	$126K	162	None ✓
Newark, NJ	$67K	$92K	$125K	155	10.75%
Stamford, CT	$66K	$92K	$125K	158	6.99%
Hilo, HI	$65K	$91K	$123K	155	11%
San Diego, CA	$65K	$90K	$123K	148	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$64K	$89K	$121K	150	9.3%
Long Beach, CA	$63K	$88K	$120K	155	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$64K	$88K	$120K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$64K	$88K	$120K	148	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$63K	$87K	$119K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$63K	$87K	$119K	145	10.75%
Paterson, NJ	$62K	$86K	$117K	140	10.75%
Sacramento, CA	$61K	$85K	$116K	128	9.3%
Chula Vista, CA	$61K	$85K	$116K	138	9.3%
Portland, OR	$61K	$85K	$116K	130	9.9%
Edison, NJ	$61K	$85K	$116K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$61K	$85K	$116K	138	None ✓
Austin, TX	$60K	$83K	$113K	110	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$60K	$83K	$113K	107	4.95%
Scottsdale, AZ	$60K	$83K	$113K	118	2.5%
Denver, CO	$60K	$83K	$113K	118	4.55%
Miami, FL	$58K	$81K	$110K	123	None ✓
Tacoma, WA	$58K	$81K	$110K	128	None ✓
Worcester, MA	$58K	$81K	$110K	120	5%
Philadelphia, PA	$58K	$81K	$110K	110	3.07%
Baltimore, MD	$58K	$81K	$110K	115	5.75%
Honolulu, HI	$58K	$81K	$110K	192	11%
New Haven, CT	$58K	$80K	$108K	122	6.99%
Dallas, TX	$57K	$79K	$108K	96	None ✓
Plano, TX	$57K	$79K	$108K	105	None ✓
Atlanta, GA	$57K	$79K	$108K	99	5.75%
Minneapolis, MN	$57K	$79K	$108K	106	6.8%
Salt Lake City, UT	$57K	$79K	$108K	105	4.85%
Hartford, CT	$57K	$79K	$108K	118	6.99%
Nashua, NH	$57K	$79K	$108K	120	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$56K	$78K	$106K	108	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$57K	$78K	$107K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$57K	$78K	$107K	118	9.3%
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$56K	$78K	$106K	118	None ✓
Naperville, IL	$57K	$78K	$107K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$57K	$78K	$107K	118	None ✓
Aurora, CO	$56K	$78K	$106K	112	4.55%
Lowell, MA	$57K	$78K	$107K	118	5%
Raleigh, NC	$56K	$78K	$106K	102	4.75%
Durham, NC	$56K	$78K	$106K	100	4.75%
St. Paul, MN	$56K	$78K	$106K	104	6.8%
Gresham, OR	$57K	$78K	$107K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$57K	$78K	$107K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$57K	$78K	$107K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$57K	$78K	$107K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$57K	$78K	$107K	118	5.99%
Anchorage, AK	$56K	$78K	$106K	128	None ✓
Hialeah, FL	$56K	$77K	$105K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$56K	$77K	$105K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$56K	$77K	$105K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$56K	$77K	$105K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$56K	$77K	$105K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$56K	$77K	$105K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$56K	$77K	$105K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$56K	$77K	$105K	115	5.99%
Irving, TX	$55K	$76K	$103K	97	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$55K	$76K	$103K	102	None ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$55K	$76K	$104K	112	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$55K	$76K	$103K	100	2.5%
Chandler, AZ	$55K	$76K	$103K	105	2.5%
Fort Collins, CO	$55K	$76K	$104K	112	4.55%
Charlotte, NC	$55K	$76K	$103K	100	4.75%
Cary, NC	$55K	$76K	$104K	112	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$55K	$76K	$103K	102	None ✓
Eugene, OR	$55K	$76K	$103K	110	9.9%
Provo, UT	$55K	$76K	$103K	100	4.85%
Houston, TX	$54K	$75K	$102K	91	None ✓
Round Rock, TX	$54K	$75K	$102K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$54K	$75K	$102K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$54K	$75K	$102K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$54K	$75K	$102K	108	4.55%
Boise, ID	$54K	$75K	$102K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$54K	$75K	$102K	108	6.6%
Stockton, CA	$54K	$74K	$101K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$54K	$74K	$101K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$54K	$74K	$101K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$54K	$74K	$101K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$54K	$74K	$101K	105	5.8%
Fort Worth, TX	$53K	$73K	$100K	93	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$53K	$73K	$99K	102	None ✓
Orlando, FL	$53K	$73K	$100K	100	None ✓
Reno, NV	$53K	$73K	$100K	108	None ✓
Missoula, MT	$53K	$73K	$99K	102	6.75%
Arlington, TX	$52K	$72K	$98K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$52K	$72K	$98K	91	None ✓
Denton, TX	$52K	$72K	$99K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$52K	$72K	$99K	100	9.3%
Albany, NY	$52K	$72K	$98K	98	6.85%
St. Petersburg, FL	$52K	$72K	$98K	105	None ✓
Port St. Lucie, FL	$52K	$72K	$98K	98	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$52K	$72K	$99K	100	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$52K	$72K	$98K	98	2.5%
Peoria, AZ	$52K	$72K	$99K	100	2.5%
Chesapeake, VA	$52K	$72K	$98K	98	5.75%
Richmond, VA	$52K	$72K	$98K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$52K	$72K	$98K	90	3.99%
Pittsburgh, PA	$52K	$72K	$98K	90	3.07%
Rochester, MN	$52K	$72K	$99K	100	6.8%
Las Vegas, NV	$52K	$72K	$98K	102	None ✓
North Las Vegas, NV	$52K	$72K	$98K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$52K	$72K	$98K	98	4.85%
West Jordan, UT	$52K	$72K	$99K	100	4.85%
Orem, UT	$52K	$72K	$98K	98	4.85%
Charleston, SC	$52K	$72K	$98K	105	6.5%
Overland Park, KS	$52K	$72K	$99K	100	5.7%
Nampa, ID	$52K	$72K	$98K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$52K	$72K	$98K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$52K	$72K	$98K	98	7.15%
Dover, DE	$52K	$72K	$99K	100	6.6%
Bakersfield, CA	$51K	$71K	$96K	95	9.3%
Aurora, IL	$51K	$71K	$96K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$51K	$71K	$96K	95	2.5%
Virginia Beach, VA	$51K	$71K	$96K	98	5.75%
Norfolk, VA	$51K	$71K	$96K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$51K	$71K	$96K	95	5.75%
Cincinnati, OH	$51K	$71K	$96K	88	3.99%
Allentown, PA	$51K	$71K	$96K	95	3.07%
Kansas City, MO	$51K	$71K	$96K	90	5.3%
Madison, WI	$51K	$71K	$96K	102	5.3%
North Charleston, SC	$51K	$71K	$96K	95	6.5%
Midland, TX	$50K	$70K	$95K	92	None ✓
Athens, GA	$50K	$70K	$95K	92	5.75%
Duluth, MN	$50K	$70K	$95K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$50K	$70K	$95K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$50K	$70K	$95K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$50K	$69K	$94K	90	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$50K	$69K	$94K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$50K	$69K	$94K	90	4.95%
Colorado Springs, CO	$50K	$69K	$94K	102	4.55%
Sterling Heights, MI	$50K	$69K	$94K	90	4.25%
St. Louis, MO	$50K	$69K	$94K	86	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$50K	$69K	$94K	88	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$50K	$69K	$94K	90	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$50K	$69K	$94K	90	5.3%
Huntsville, AL	$50K	$69K	$94K	88	5%
Fargo, ND	$50K	$69K	$94K	90	2.5%
Pasadena, TX	$49K	$68K	$93K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$49K	$68K	$93K	88	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$49K	$68K	$93K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$49K	$68K	$93K	90	6.85%
Syracuse, NY	$49K	$68K	$93K	88	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$49K	$68K	$93K	93	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$49K	$68K	$93K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$49K	$68K	$93K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$49K	$68K	$93K	88	None ✓
Detroit, MI	$49K	$68K	$93K	82	4.25%
Green Bay, WI	$49K	$68K	$93K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$49K	$68K	$93K	88	5%
Des Moines, IA	$49K	$68K	$93K	88	4.82%
Great Falls, MT	$49K	$68K	$93K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$49K	$68K	$93K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$49K	$68K	$93K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$49K	$68K	$93K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$49K	$68K	$93K	88	None ✓
San Antonio, TX	$48K	$67K	$91K	87	None ✓
Amarillo, TX	$48K	$67K	$91K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$48K	$67K	$91K	82	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$49K	$67K	$92K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$49K	$67K	$92K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$49K	$67K	$92K	85	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$48K	$67K	$91K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$48K	$67K	$91K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$48K	$67K	$91K	82	5.75%
Winston-Salem, NC	$49K	$67K	$92K	85	4.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$48K	$67K	$91K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$48K	$67K	$91K	82	None ✓
Warren, MI	$49K	$67K	$92K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$49K	$67K	$92K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$49K	$67K	$92K	85	5.3%
South Bend, IN	$48K	$67K	$91K	82	3.23%
Mobile, AL	$48K	$67K	$91K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$48K	$67K	$91K	82	4.75%
Lafayette, LA	$49K	$67K	$92K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$49K	$67K	$92K	85	4.82%
Davenport, IA	$48K	$67K	$91K	82	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$49K	$67K	$92K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$49K	$67K	$92K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$49K	$67K	$92K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$49K	$67K	$92K	85	4.9%
Killeen, TX	$48K	$66K	$90K	80	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$48K	$66K	$90K	88	6.85%
Rockford, IL	$48K	$66K	$90K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$48K	$66K	$90K	80	5.75%
Akron, OH	$48K	$66K	$90K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$48K	$66K	$90K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$48K	$66K	$90K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$48K	$66K	$90K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$48K	$66K	$90K	80	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$48K	$66K	$90K	85	5%
Bowling Green, KY	$48K	$66K	$90K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$48K	$66K	$90K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$48K	$66K	$90K	80	4.75%
Omaha, NE	$48K	$66K	$90K	88	5.84%
Las Cruces, NM	$48K	$66K	$90K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$48K	$66K	$90K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$47K	$65K	$89K	78	None ✓
Spokane, WA	$47K	$65K	$88K	95	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$47K	$65K	$88K	82	3.99%
Toledo, OH	$47K	$65K	$89K	78	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$47K	$65K	$88K	90	4.25%
Evansville, IN	$47K	$65K	$89K	78	3.23%
New Orleans, LA	$47K	$65K	$88K	92	6%
Shreveport, LA	$47K	$65K	$89K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$47K	$65K	$89K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$47K	$65K	$89K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$46K	$64K	$87K	75	None ✓
Fort Smith, AR	$46K	$64K	$87K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$46K	$64K	$87K	75	6.5%
Corpus Christi, TX	$46K	$63K	$86K	84	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$46K	$63K	$86K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$46K	$63K	$86K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$46K	$63K	$86K	82	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$46K	$63K	$86K	85	None ✓
Birmingham, AL	$46K	$63K	$86K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$46K	$63K	$86K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$46K	$63K	$86K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$46K	$63K	$86K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$46K	$63K	$86K	88	5.9%
Tulsa, OK	$45K	$62K	$84K	80	4.75%
El Paso, TX	$44K	$61K	$83K	82	None ✓
Wichita, KS	$44K	$61K	$83K	82	5.7%
Lubbock, TX	$43K	$59K	$80K	78	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$43K	$59K	$80K	82	4.9%
Laredo, TX	$41K	$56K	$76K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $72K Cannabis Chemist salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Cannabis Chemist Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Cannabis Chemist is $72,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $52,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $98,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Cannabis Chemists nationally earn $132,000+.

Education and requirements

Bachelor's in Chemistry; cannabis lab testing experience; state certification. This role is 10% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Cannabis Chemist compensation is growing at 18.5% annually, well above the national average wage growth rate. Demand for qualified Cannabis Chemists significantly outpaces supply in most major metros.

Cannabis Chemist salary FAQ

How much does a Cannabis Chemist make?

The median Cannabis Chemist salary in the US is $72,000 per year — about $35/hour. Most earn between $52,000 (25th percentile) and $98,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Cannabis Chemist?

Entry-level Cannabis Chemist positions typically start around $52,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Cannabis Chemists earn?

The top 10% of Cannabis Chemists earn $132,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Cannabis Chemists the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Cannabis Chemist salary at $108K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Cannabis Chemist salaries going up?

Yes — Cannabis Chemist pay is growing about 18.5% year over year, above the US average wage-growth rate.

Cannabis Chemist Salaryby City (2026)