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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
Same credentials, same experience — different city, different paycheck. The national median salary for Chemists in 2026 is $93,308, with entry-level positions averaging $67,182 and senior roles reaching $132,497. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Santa Clara pays a median of $173,679, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Chemist falls within the Science & Research sector, specifically in Science. The typical education path involves Bachelor's in chemistry. The career outlook? Steady. Work style is lab-based — which means location flexibility varies, and so does the premium different markets are willing to pay. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
$101,283 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Chemist in Santa Clara, California earns a median of $173,679 — $101,283 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($72,396). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
The three-tier salary picture for Chemists in 2026: $67,182 at entry (P10), $93,308 at midpoint, and $132,497 at the senior end (P90). The demand picture adds context to these salary numbers. The $65,315 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $12,941 above the national median household income of $80,367.
The pay gap between the top and bottom markets is dramatic: $164,400 (average of the top 3 cities) versus $74,176 (average of the bottom 3). That $90,224 delta is real money — $7,519/month before taxes. But the highest-paying cities tend to be the most expensive. The cost-adjusted comparison below tells the more important story.
A Chemist in Santa Clara, California earns a median of $173,679 — $101,283 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($72,396). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Chemist is $67,182, while senior-level (P90) earners average $132,497. That $65,315 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
Hawaii pays the highest average median salary for Chemists at $118,529 across 1 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Hampshire at $97,344) is $21,185.
At the 90th percentile, Chemists pull in an average of $132,497. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $67,182 | $93,308 | $132,497 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £37,082 | £51,503 | £73,135 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$52,781 | CA$73,307 | CA$104,095 |
| Australia | 13 | A$60,561 | A$84,113 | A$119,440 |
| Sweden | 24 | 377,373 kr | 524,130 kr | 744,264 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 1 | $85,341 | $118,529 | $168,311 |
| California | 61 | $76,676 | $106,495 | $151,222 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $73,917 | $102,663 | $145,781 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $71,979 | $99,971 | $141,959 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $70,088 | $97,344 | $138,228 |
| Washington | 8 | $68,686 | $95,397 | $135,464 |
| Oregon | 5 | $67,920 | $94,333 | $133,953 |
| Colorado | 11 | $67,561 | $93,835 | $133,246 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $67,525 | $93,784 | $133,174 |
| New York | 5 | $67,202 | $93,335 | $132,536 |
| Illinois | 5 | $67,050 | $93,125 | $132,238 |
| Nevada | 5 | $66,281 | $92,057 | $130,721 |
| Idaho | 3 | $66,243 | $92,005 | $130,647 |
| Virginia | 7 | $66,243 | $92,004 | $130,646 |
| Utah | 4 | $65,692 | $91,239 | $129,559 |
| Florida | 22 | $65,630 | $91,153 | $129,437 |
| Arizona | 12 | $65,566 | $91,063 | $129,310 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $65,487 | $90,954 | $129,155 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $64,731 | $89,904 | $127,663 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $64,290 | $89,291 | $126,793 |
| Michigan | 6 | $64,216 | $89,189 | $126,648 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $64,185 | $89,145 | $126,586 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $64,050 | $88,958 | $126,321 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $63,029 | $87,540 | $124,307 |
| Alaska | 1 | $63,029 | $87,540 | $124,307 |
| Iowa | 2 | $63,029 | $87,540 | $124,307 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $63,029 | $87,540 | $124,307 |
| Montana | 1 | $63,029 | $87,540 | $124,307 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $62,167 | $86,344 | $122,608 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $62,084 | $86,227 | $122,443 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $62,076 | $86,217 | $122,429 |
| Texas | 40 | $61,992 | $86,100 | $122,262 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $61,784 | $85,811 | $121,852 |
| Georgia | 6 | $61,611 | $85,571 | $121,510 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $61,532 | $85,461 | $121,355 |
| Indiana | 3 | $61,369 | $85,235 | $121,033 |
| Alabama | 5 | $60,684 | $84,283 | $119,683 |
| Ohio | 6 | $60,550 | $84,097 | $119,418 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $60,508 | $84,039 | $119,335 |
| Maryland | 1 | $60,445 | $83,951 | $119,210 |
| Missouri | 4 | $60,398 | $83,885 | $119,117 |
| Kansas | 4 | $60,256 | $83,688 | $118,838 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $60,003 | $83,338 | $118,340 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $59,689 | $82,901 | $117,719 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $55,843 | $77,560 | $110,135 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $53,259 | $73,971 | $105,039 |
The state salary map for Chemists: Hawaii at $118,529, California at $106,495, Massachusetts at $102,663 lead the pack. The bottom tier — Mississippi ($73,971), Arkansas ($77,560), Nebraska ($82,901) — shows how regional economics reshape compensation. Across all 46 states with data, the state-level spread alone is $44,558.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Santa Clara ($173,679 nominal, 198 cost index) delivers $87,717 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oceanside California | $128,246 | 146 | $87,840 | $77,557 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $173,679 | 198 | $87,717 | $102,568 |
| 3 | Boston Massachusetts | $132,448 | 151 | $87,714 | $85,565 |
| 4 | Huntington Beach California | $148,205 | 169 | $87,695 | $88,544 |
| 5 | Fremont California | $155,208 | 177 | $87,688 | $92,400 |
| 6 | Irvine California | $161,336 | 184 | $87,683 | $95,773 |
| 7 | Bellevue Washington | $148,118 | 169 | $87,644 | $108,196 |
| 8 | Thousand Oaks California | $140,852 | 161 | $87,486 | $84,497 |
| 9 | Los Angeles California | $128,596 | 147 | $87,480 | $77,750 |
| 10 | Anaheim California | $127,721 | 146 | $87,480 | $77,268 |
From a career planning perspective, Chemist offers a $65,315 earning range. The 2.0× progression is steady — not explosive, but reliable. The typical entry requires Bachelor's in chemistry. Day-to-day, expect lab-based work environments. With data from 288 cities, the geographic flexibility is substantial — this career travels well.
The weighted national median salary for Chemists is $93,308 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $67,182, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $132,497.
The highest-paying city for Chemists is Santa Clara, California with a median salary of $173,679. The top 3 cities are Santa Clara ($173,679), Irvine ($161,336), San Francisco ($158,185). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Chemist salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $72,396. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Chemists (10th percentile) average $67,182 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $125,049. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Chemists average $132,497 nationally — $65,315 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Chemists can earn up to $246,624.
The top-paying states for Chemists are Hawaii ($118,529 median), California ($106,495 median), Massachusetts ($102,663 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Chemist involves Bachelor's in chemistry. The field is in the Science & Research sector (Science), and the career outlook is steady. Work style is typically lab-based.
With a national median of $93,308 and representation across 288 metro areas, Chemist offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $65,315 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: steady.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.