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Chemical Technician II Salary in the United States

How much does a Chemical Technician II make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Chemical Technician II in the United States is $66,347 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $32.

However, a Chemical Technician II's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $79,999
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $61,022 to $73,493
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $56,174

Key Factors That Influence Chemical Technician II Salaries

A Chemical Technician II's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Chemical Technician II Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Chemical Technician II's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Chemical Technician I (1-3 years): $56,003
  • Chemical Technician II (3-5 years): $66,347
  • Chemical Technician III (5-7 years): $79,162
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Chemical Technician I1-3 years$56,003
Chemical Technician II3-5 years$66,347
Chemical Technician III5-7 years$79,162

How Do Chemical Technician IIs Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Chemical Technician IIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $73,459.
  • California: $73,181.
  • Massachusetts: $72,205.

Top Paying Cities for Chemical Technician II

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $83,683
  • San Francisco: $82,767
  • Oakland: $81,023

What Skills Can Increase a Chemical Technician II's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 11.47% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Analytical Chemistry (Mentioned in 3.08% Job Postings): Analytical chemistry studies and uses instruments and methods used to separate, identify, and quantify matter. In practice, separation, identification or quantification may constitute the entire analysis or be combined with another method. Separation isolates analytes. Qualitative analysis identifies analytes, while quantitative analysis determines the numerical amount or concentration. Analytical chemistry consists of classical, wet chemical methods and modern, instrumental methods. Classical qualitative methods use separations such as precipitation, extraction, and distillation. Identification may be based on differences in color, odor, melting point, boiling point, radioactivity or reactivity. Classical quantitative analysis uses mass or volume changes to quantify amount. Instrumental methods may be used to separate samples using chromatography, electrophoresis or field flow fractionation. Then qualitative and quantitative analysis can be performed, often with the same instrument and may use light interaction, heat interaction, electric fields or magnetic fields. Often the same instrument can separate, identify and quantify an analyte.
  • Microbiology (Mentioned in 2.16% Job Postings): Microbiology (from Greek μῑκρος, mīkros, "small"; βίος, bios, "life"; and -λογία, -logia) is the study of microorganisms, those being unicellular (single cell), multicellular (cell colony), or acellular (lacking cells). Microbiology encompasses numerous sub-disciplines including virology, parasitology, mycology and bacteriology. Eukaryotic microorganisms possess membrane-bound cell organelles and include fungi and protists, whereas prokaryotic organisms—all of which are microorganisms—are conventionally classified as lacking membrane-bound organelles and include Bacteria and Archaea. Microbiologists traditionally relied on culture, staining, and microscopy. However, less than 1% of the microorganisms present in common environments can be cultured in isolation using current means. Microbiologists often rely on molecular biology tools such as DNA sequence based identification, for example 16s rRNA gene sequence used for bacteria identification.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 11.47%
Analytical Chemistry 3.08%
Microbiology 2.16%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Chemical Technician II's salary.

  • Forensics: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Continuous Improvement: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • ISO: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Forensics $71,655
8%
Continuous Improvement $70,991
7%
ISO $70,991
7%

Chemical Technician II Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Chemical Technician II salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $74,358. While startup companies pay approximate $62,919.

Chemical Technician II Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $62,919
Growth Stage 51~500 $66,540
Established 501~5000 $71,809
Enterprise 5000+ $74,358

Chemical Technician II Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Chemical Technician II roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Chemical Technician positions in Transportation or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Chemical Technician II as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Chemical Technician II

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$86,251$41.030%
Pharmaceuticals$82,934$40.025%
Biotechnology$79,616$38.020%
Chemicals$72,982$35.010%
Energy & Utilities$71,655$34.08%

How Education impacts an Chemical Technician II's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Chemical Technician II enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Chemical Technician II with a Bachelor's Degree is between $63,963 and $69,278.

Chemical Technician II Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Chemical Technician II
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.5%
High School 14.9%
Associates 14.9%
Bachelors 62.7%
Masters 6.0%
Doctorate 0.0%

Chemical Technician II Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Chemical Technician II's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$61,022
Average $66,347/year
$73,493
$5,085
Average $5,529/month
$6,124
$1,174
Average $1,276/week
$1,413
$29
Average $32/hour
$35
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $73,493 $6,124 $1,413 $35
Average $66,347 $5,529 $1,276 $32
25th Percentile $61,022 $5,085 $1,174 $29

Chemical Technician II Salary Growth & Career Path

For a Chemical Technician II, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Chemical Technician III role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $79,162 - a projected growth of 19% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Chemical Technician II

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Chemical Technician II

Here are companies hiring for Chemical Technician II and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Chemical Technician II

1. Where can a Chemical Technician II earn the most?

A Chemical Technician II's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Chemical Technician II earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Chemical Technician II is $83,683.

2. What is the highest pay for Chemical Technician II?

The highest pay for Chemical Technician II is $79,999.

3. What is the lowest pay for Chemical Technician II?

The lowest pay for Chemical Technician II is $56,174.

4. What are the responsibilities of Chemical Technician II?

Determines the physical and chemical properties of compounds and materials using quantitative and qualitative chemical analysis. Performs a variety of chemical tests using instrumental methods and standard test equipment. Prepares materials for laboratory examination and conducts quality, safety, and compliance assessments. Follows established SOPs. Sets up and maintains lab equipment. Records and tabulates data and documents observations and results. Requires an associate degree in chemistry, science or equivalent. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Works independently within established procedures associated with the specific job function. Has gained proficiency in multiple competencies relevant to the job. Typically requires 3-5 years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Chemical Technician II?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Chemical Technician II roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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