Research and science jobs offer pay well above the national average. Increased demand for STEM workers is increasing salaries in research and science. Jobs in these fields, however, often require higher education at the graduate level and/or specialized training. While domain-specific expertise gives workers in these fields access to very specialized jobs, there are also many employers who hire STEM workers for their general data and technology skills.
Chemist salary in US
A Chemist salary range in US can vary based on important factors such as education, skills, certifications, and years of experience. A Chemist in US can expect to see an entry level salary range of $42,249 to $67,203 per year, based on 61 salary contributions. At the highest seniority level, an experienced Chemist in US can make a salary range of $74,907 to $128,782 with at least 8 years of experience, based on 57 salary contributions. The top 3 companies in US where a Chemist gets the highest compensation are Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Intel Corporation and Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. Bigger companies typically pay 35.00% more than smaller companies for a Chemist.
Top paying industries
The top 5 paying industries for Chemist in United States are Energy, Mining & Utilities with a median total pay of $93,683, Aerospace & Defense with a median total pay of $88,673, Construction, Repair & Maintenance Services with a median total pay of $86,212, Government & Public Administration with a median total pay of $84,598, and Agriculture with a median total pay of $83,938.
The average salary for Chemist is $118,106 per year or $57 per hour, with top earners making up to $205,190 (90th percentile). Typically, pay ranges from $89,132 (25th percentile) to $158,836 (75th percentile) annually. Salary estimates are based on 9878 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by Chemist employees.
The highest salary for Chemist is $158,836 per year, $13,236 per month or $76 per hour.
The lowest salary for Chemist is $89,132 per year, $7,428 per month or $43 per hour.
The salary trajectory of Chemist ranges between locations and employers. The salary starts at $90,814 per year (estimate) and goes up to $351,835 per year (estimate) for the highest level of seniority.
Chemists are generally paid salaries on par with those of other Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) researchers. Chemists can improve their earnings through promotion and securing new grants, which generally occur after repeated publication in top scientific and medical journals. The subfields of nanotechnology for medicinal and environmental safety are both growing especially quickly, so prospective chemists who develop expertise in these areas may command higher salaries than their peers in other specialties.
Many factors influence salary, and five to seven years of experience, membership in a professional organization, and participation in research projects can qualify a chemist's annual earnings as good overall. According to Glassdoor ratings, 63% of chemists feel positively about their pay.
Salary as a chemist changes based on experience, membership in professional organizations, and attaining a master's or doctorate degree. Overall, chemist salary ranges between $69,231.82 and $205,211.26, with the average professional bringing home $83,055.52. After years working in the field, you can progress in your career as a principal chemist, a senior-level role that offers higher pay and potentially better benefits.
To earn more money from your chemist career, consider a master's or doctorate degree. While you can score jobs with a bachelor's degree, completing postgraduate education broadens your horizons and gives you diverse opportunities to teach, pursue research projects, and join research-oriented teams. Improve your most marketable skills, including procedures, analytical methods, lab equipment, handling test results, developing projects, and working with materials in addition to high-level chemistry knowledge. Demonstrate what you bring to the table through research projects and teaching; both look excellent on a resume and will score you higher earnings down the road. Joining a professional organization, such as the American Chemical Society, is another wise choice.
How do you negotiate a higher salary in your chemist job? By demonstrating your value. Whether you've received your first job offer or your 50th, chemists vary widely in their levels of knowledge, experience, and research. Having just one extra research opportunity, internship, or part-time role on your resume provides more negotiating power compared to similar candidates at the same level. If the organization has a budget for new hires, your extra experience could score you the raise. Negotiate in the 10-15% range, demonstrating with evidence why you deserve the extra money. Tackled a research project? Helped develop a successful product? Show off what you've accomplished to build your own case.
