Science22% remote-eligible+3.2% YoY growth

Chemist Salary
by City (2026)

Investigate the properties and composition of matter to develop new products and materials. National median: $80K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$80K

Top 10% earn

$142K

Entry level

$58K

Salary growth

+3.2%/yr

Chemist salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$84K	$116K	$157K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$82K	$114K	$153K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$79K	$109K	$147K	187	6.85%
Oakland, CA	$78K	$108K	$146K	185	9.3%
Boston, MA	$78K	$108K	$146K	162	5%
Cambridge, MA	$78K	$108K	$146K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$78K	$108K	$146K	185	11%
Washington, DC	$77K	$106K	$143K	152	8.5%
Bellevue, WA	$76K	$105K	$141K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$75K	$104K	$140K	172	9.3%
San Diego, CA	$74K	$102K	$138K	148	9.3%
Yonkers, NY	$73K	$101K	$137K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$73K	$101K	$137K	165	5.75%
Los Angeles, CA	$73K	$100K	$135K	163	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$73K	$100K	$135K	150	None ✓
Kirkland, WA	$73K	$100K	$135K	162	None ✓
Arlington, VA	$73K	$100K	$135K	148	5.75%
Jersey City, NJ	$73K	$100K	$135K	162	10.75%
Stamford, CT	$72K	$99K	$134K	158	6.99%
Newark, NJ	$71K	$98K	$132K	155	10.75%
Hilo, HI	$71K	$98K	$132K	155	11%
Anaheim, CA	$69K	$96K	$129K	148	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$70K	$96K	$130K	150	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$69K	$96K	$129K	148	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$69K	$95K	$128K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$69K	$95K	$128K	145	10.75%
Sacramento, CA	$68K	$94K	$127K	128	9.3%
Long Beach, CA	$68K	$94K	$127K	155	9.3%
Worcester, MA	$68K	$94K	$127K	120	5%
Philadelphia, PA	$68K	$94K	$127K	110	3.07%
Baltimore, MD	$68K	$94K	$127K	115	5.75%
Paterson, NJ	$67K	$93K	$126K	140	10.75%
Chula Vista, CA	$67K	$92K	$125K	138	9.3%
Durham, NC	$67K	$92K	$124K	100	4.75%
Edison, NJ	$67K	$92K	$125K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$67K	$92K	$125K	138	None ✓
Denver, CO	$65K	$90K	$121K	118	4.55%
Portland, OR	$65K	$90K	$121K	130	9.9%
Honolulu, HI	$65K	$90K	$121K	192	11%
Anchorage, AK	$65K	$90K	$121K	128	None ✓
Austin, TX	$64K	$88K	$119K	110	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$64K	$88K	$119K	107	4.95%
Raleigh, NC	$64K	$88K	$119K	102	4.75%
Hartford, CT	$64K	$88K	$119K	118	6.99%
New Haven, CT	$63K	$87K	$118K	122	6.99%
Frisco, TX	$62K	$86K	$116K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$62K	$86K	$116K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$62K	$86K	$116K	118	4.95%
Tacoma, WA	$63K	$86K	$117K	128	None ✓
Vancouver, WA	$62K	$86K	$116K	118	None ✓
Lowell, MA	$62K	$86K	$116K	118	5%
Pittsburgh, PA	$63K	$86K	$117K	90	3.07%
Minneapolis, MN	$63K	$86K	$117K	106	6.8%
Gresham, OR	$62K	$86K	$116K	118	9.9%
Huntsville, AL	$63K	$86K	$117K	88	5%
Bridgeport, CT	$62K	$86K	$116K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$62K	$86K	$116K	118	None ✓
Nashua, NH	$63K	$86K	$117K	120	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$62K	$86K	$116K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$62K	$86K	$116K	118	5.99%
Hialeah, FL	$61K	$85K	$114K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$61K	$85K	$114K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$61K	$85K	$114K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$61K	$85K	$114K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$61K	$85K	$114K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$61K	$85K	$114K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$61K	$85K	$114K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$61K	$85K	$114K	115	5.99%
Houston, TX	$61K	$84K	$113K	91	None ✓
Dallas, TX	$61K	$84K	$113K	96	None ✓
Plano, TX	$61K	$84K	$113K	105	None ✓
Miami, FL	$61K	$84K	$113K	123	None ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$61K	$84K	$113K	112	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$61K	$84K	$113K	118	2.5%
Aurora, CO	$61K	$84K	$113K	112	4.55%
Fort Collins, CO	$61K	$84K	$113K	112	4.55%
Atlanta, GA	$61K	$84K	$113K	99	5.75%
Cary, NC	$61K	$84K	$113K	112	4.75%
Madison, WI	$61K	$84K	$113K	102	5.3%
St. Paul, MN	$61K	$84K	$113K	104	6.8%
Salt Lake City, UT	$61K	$84K	$113K	105	4.85%
Eugene, OR	$60K	$83K	$112K	110	9.9%
McKinney, TX	$59K	$82K	$110K	108	None ✓
Round Rock, TX	$60K	$82K	$111K	108	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$59K	$82K	$110K	105	9.3%
Chandler, AZ	$59K	$82K	$110K	105	2.5%
Gilbert, AZ	$60K	$82K	$111K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$60K	$82K	$111K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$60K	$82K	$111K	108	4.55%
Springfield, MA	$59K	$82K	$110K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$59K	$82K	$110K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$59K	$82K	$110K	105	None ✓
Provo, UT	$59K	$82K	$110K	100	4.85%
Boise, ID	$60K	$82K	$111K	108	5.8%
Meridian, ID	$59K	$82K	$110K	105	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$60K	$82K	$111K	108	6.6%
Carrollton, TX	$58K	$81K	$109K	102	None ✓
Missoula, MT	$58K	$81K	$109K	102	6.75%
Fort Worth, TX	$58K	$80K	$108K	93	None ✓
Irving, TX	$58K	$80K	$108K	97	None ✓
Denton, TX	$58K	$80K	$108K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$58K	$80K	$108K	100	9.3%
Tampa, FL	$58K	$80K	$108K	102	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$58K	$80K	$108K	100	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$58K	$80K	$108K	118	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$58K	$80K	$108K	100	2.5%
Peoria, AZ	$58K	$80K	$108K	100	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$58K	$80K	$108K	100	4.75%
Virginia Beach, VA	$58K	$80K	$108K	98	5.75%
Nashville, TN	$58K	$80K	$108K	102	None ✓
Rochester, MN	$58K	$80K	$108K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$58K	$80K	$108K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$58K	$80K	$108K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$58K	$80K	$108K	100	6.6%
Albany, NY	$57K	$79K	$107K	98	6.85%
Port St. Lucie, FL	$57K	$79K	$107K	98	None ✓
Chesapeake, VA	$57K	$79K	$107K	98	5.75%
North Las Vegas, NV	$57K	$79K	$107K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$57K	$79K	$107K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$57K	$79K	$107K	98	4.85%
Nampa, ID	$57K	$79K	$107K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$57K	$79K	$107K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$57K	$79K	$107K	98	7.15%
Arlington, TX	$57K	$78K	$106K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$57K	$78K	$106K	91	None ✓
Bakersfield, CA	$57K	$78K	$106K	95	9.3%
Orlando, FL	$57K	$78K	$106K	100	None ✓
Aurora, IL	$57K	$78K	$106K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$57K	$78K	$106K	95	2.5%
Colorado Springs, CO	$57K	$78K	$106K	102	4.55%
Norfolk, VA	$57K	$78K	$106K	95	5.75%
Richmond, VA	$57K	$78K	$106K	98	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$57K	$78K	$106K	95	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$57K	$78K	$106K	90	3.99%
Allentown, PA	$57K	$78K	$106K	95	3.07%
Reno, NV	$57K	$78K	$106K	108	None ✓
North Charleston, SC	$57K	$78K	$106K	95	6.5%
Grand Prairie, TX	$56K	$77K	$103K	90	None ✓
Midland, TX	$56K	$77K	$104K	92	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$56K	$77K	$104K	105	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$56K	$77K	$103K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$56K	$77K	$103K	90	4.95%
Mesa, AZ	$56K	$77K	$104K	98	2.5%
Athens, GA	$56K	$77K	$104K	92	5.75%
Sterling Heights, MI	$56K	$77K	$103K	90	4.25%
St. Louis, MO	$56K	$77K	$104K	86	5.3%
Milwaukee, WI	$56K	$77K	$104K	90	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$56K	$77K	$103K	90	5.3%
Duluth, MN	$56K	$77K	$104K	92	6.8%
Charleston, SC	$56K	$77K	$104K	105	6.5%
Greenville, SC	$56K	$77K	$104K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$56K	$77K	$104K	92	None ✓
Fargo, ND	$56K	$77K	$103K	90	2.5%
San Antonio, TX	$55K	$76K	$103K	87	None ✓
Pasadena, TX	$55K	$76K	$102K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$55K	$76K	$102K	88	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$55K	$76K	$103K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$55K	$76K	$103K	90	6.85%
Syracuse, NY	$55K	$76K	$102K	88	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$55K	$76K	$103K	93	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$55K	$76K	$102K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$55K	$76K	$102K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$55K	$76K	$102K	88	None ✓
Cincinnati, OH	$55K	$76K	$103K	88	3.99%
Detroit, MI	$55K	$76K	$103K	82	4.25%
Kansas City, MO	$55K	$76K	$103K	90	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$55K	$76K	$103K	88	3.23%
Green Bay, WI	$55K	$76K	$102K	88	5.3%
Las Vegas, NV	$55K	$76K	$103K	102	None ✓
Lexington, KY	$55K	$76K	$102K	88	5%
Albuquerque, NM	$55K	$76K	$103K	88	5.9%
Great Falls, MT	$55K	$76K	$102K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$55K	$76K	$102K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$55K	$76K	$102K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$55K	$76K	$102K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$55K	$76K	$102K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$54K	$75K	$101K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$54K	$75K	$101K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$54K	$75K	$101K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$54K	$75K	$101K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$54K	$75K	$101K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$54K	$75K	$101K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$54K	$75K	$101K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$54K	$75K	$101K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$54K	$75K	$101K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$54K	$75K	$101K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$54K	$75K	$101K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$54K	$75K	$101K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$54K	$75K	$101K	85	4.9%
Amarillo, TX	$54K	$74K	$100K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$54K	$74K	$100K	82	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$53K	$74K	$99K	88	6.85%
Spokane, WA	$53K	$74K	$99K	95	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$53K	$74K	$99K	90	2.5%
Pueblo, CO	$54K	$74K	$100K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$54K	$74K	$100K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$54K	$74K	$100K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$54K	$74K	$100K	82	4.75%
Knoxville, TN	$53K	$74K	$99K	85	None ✓
Clarksville, TN	$54K	$74K	$100K	82	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$53K	$74K	$99K	82	3.99%
South Bend, IN	$54K	$74K	$100K	82	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$53K	$74K	$99K	85	5%
Mobile, AL	$54K	$74K	$100K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$54K	$74K	$100K	82	4.75%
New Orleans, LA	$53K	$74K	$99K	92	6%
Baton Rouge, LA	$53K	$74K	$99K	88	6%
Davenport, IA	$54K	$74K	$100K	82	4.82%
Killeen, TX	$53K	$73K	$99K	80	None ✓
Abilene, TX	$53K	$73K	$98K	78	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$53K	$73K	$99K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$53K	$73K	$99K	80	5.75%
Toledo, OH	$53K	$73K	$98K	78	3.99%
Akron, OH	$53K	$73K	$99K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$53K	$73K	$99K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$53K	$73K	$99K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$53K	$73K	$99K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$53K	$73K	$99K	80	3.23%
Evansville, IN	$53K	$73K	$98K	78	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$53K	$73K	$99K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$53K	$73K	$99K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$53K	$73K	$99K	80	4.75%
Shreveport, LA	$53K	$73K	$98K	78	6%
Las Cruces, NM	$53K	$73K	$99K	80	5.9%
Jackson, MS	$53K	$73K	$98K	78	5%
Gulfport, MS	$53K	$73K	$99K	80	5%
Charleston, WV	$53K	$73K	$98K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$52K	$72K	$97K	75	None ✓
Grand Rapids, MI	$52K	$72K	$97K	90	4.25%
Birmingham, AL	$52K	$72K	$97K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$52K	$72K	$97K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$52K	$72K	$97K	82	4.75%
Des Moines, IA	$52K	$72K	$97K	88	4.82%
Omaha, NE	$52K	$72K	$97K	88	5.84%
Fort Smith, AR	$52K	$72K	$97K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$52K	$72K	$97K	75	6.5%
Corpus Christi, TX	$51K	$70K	$95K	84	None ✓
Savannah, GA	$51K	$70K	$95K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$51K	$70K	$95K	82	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$51K	$70K	$95K	80	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$51K	$70K	$95K	82	5.7%
El Paso, TX	$49K	$68K	$92K	82	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$49K	$68K	$92K	82	4.9%
Lubbock, TX	$48K	$66K	$89K	78	None ✓
Laredo, TX	$45K	$62K	$84K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $80K 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 →

Chemist Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Chemist is $80,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $58,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $108,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Chemists nationally earn $142,000+.

Education and requirements

Bachelor's or PhD in Chemistry. This role is 22% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Chemist compensation is growing at 3.2% annually, above the national average wage growth rate.

Chemist salary FAQ

How much does a Chemist make?

The median Chemist salary in the US is $80,000 per year — about $38/hour. Most earn between $58,000 (25th percentile) and $108,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Chemist?

Entry-level Chemist positions typically start around $58,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Chemists earn?

The top 10% of Chemists earn $142,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Chemists the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Chemist salary at $116K 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 Chemist salaries going up?

Yes — Chemist pay is growing about 3.2% year over year, near the US average wage-growth rate.

Chemist Salaryby City (2026)