A Chemist I'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 Chemist Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Chemist I'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:
Chemist I (0-2 years): $65,294
Chemist II (2-4 years): $80,964
Chemist III (4-7 years): $98,126
Chemist IV (7+ years): $128,677
Chemist V (7-10 years): $150,279
Job Role
Years of Experience
Average Salary
Chemist I
0-2 years
$65,294
Chemist II
2-4 years
$80,964
Chemist III
4-7 years
$98,126
Chemist IV
7+ years
$128,677
Chemist V
7-10 years
$150,279
$65,294Chemist I...
$80,964Chemist I...
$98,126Chemist I...
$128,677Chemist I...
$150,279Chemist V...
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Chemist I 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 Chemist Is.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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: $82,355
San Francisco: $81,454
Oakland: $79,737
San Jose, CA$82,355
San Francisco, CA$81,454
Oakland, CA$79,737
New York, NY$75,179
Paramus, NJ$74,265
Queens Village, NY$74,261
Passaic, NJ$74,199
Bergenfield, NJ$74,194
Stamford, CT$74,050
Huntington, NY$74,023
Newark, NJ$73,541
Bridgeport, CT$73,403
Vallejo, CA$73,273
New Brunswick, NJ$73,247
Petaluma, CA$73,208
Middlesex, NJ$73,084
Somerset, NJ$73,038
Santa Cruz, CA$72,953
Boston, MA$72,555
Monterey, CA$72,326
Seattle, WA$72,176
Santa Rosa, CA$72,163
Los Angeles, CA$72,143
Juneau, AK$71,974
Washington, DC$71,902
Orange, CA$71,669
Santa Ana, CA$71,497
Long Beach, CA$71,432
Anaheim, CA$71,419
Anchorage, AK$71,386
Santa Maria, CA$71,190
Everett, WA$71,177
Danbury, CT$70,947
Bremerton, WA$70,857
Tacoma, WA$70,622
New Suffolk, NY$70,621
Sacramento, CA$70,602
Santa Barbara, CA$70,531
Trenton, NJ$70,459
San Diego, CA$70,459
Brockton, MA$70,387
Fairbanks, AK$70,227
Lompoc, CA$70,060
Lowell, MA$70,008
Ventura, CA$69,995
Nashua, NH$69,982
Stockton, CA$69,976
Modesto, CA$69,499
Poughkeepsie, NY$69,355
Olympia, WA$69,231
Kennewick, WA$69,231
New Haven, CT$69,205
Lawrence, MA$68,970
Hartford, CT$68,905
Riverside, CA$68,892
New Bedford, MA$68,826
Richland, WA$68,826
Bakersfield, CA$68,735
San Bernardino, CA$68,709
New Britain, CT$68,702
Atlantic City, NJ$68,702
New London, CT$68,676
Norwich, CT$68,657
Portsmouth, NH$68,644
Boulder, CO$68,505
Portland, OR$68,415
Worcester, MA$68,409
Minneapolis, MN$68,206
Philadelphia, PA$68,115
Honolulu, HI$67,899
Saint Paul, MN$67,868
Vineland, NJ$67,854
Providence, RI$67,664
Chicago, IL$67,475
Bellingham, WA$67,396
Springfield, MA$67,344
Baltimore, MD$67,325
Chico, CA$67,161
Pittsfield, MA$66,985
Manchester, NH$66,861
Spokane, WA$66,574
Denver, CO$66,567
Albany, NY$66,260
Troy, NY$66,234
Nassau, NY$66,164
Schenectady, NY$66,097
Wilmington, DE$66,045
Burlington, VT$65,953
Salem, OR$65,927
Portland, ME$65,725
Yakima, WA$65,660
Rochester, MN$65,457
Reno, NV$65,425
Fresno, CA$65,425
Milwaukee, WI$65,366
Detroit, MI$65,301
Ann Arbor, MI$65,289
Allentown, PA$65,281
Colorado Springs, CO$65,170
Syracuse, NY$65,137
Carson City, NV$65,137
Houston, TX$65,046
Eugene, OR$65,013
Gary, IN$64,935
Springfield, OR$64,883
Bismarck, ND$64,870
Galveston, TX$64,824
Medford, OR$64,726
Fort Collins, CO$64,700
Concord, NH$64,667
Austin, TX$64,648
Mesa, AZ$64,510
Reading, PA$64,504
Phoenix, AZ$64,497
Dallas, TX$64,478
Saint Cloud, MN$64,415
Madison, WI$64,328
Utica, NY$64,151
Rochester, NY$64,047
Des Moines, IA$64,040
Raleigh, NC$64,034
Atlanta, GA$63,936
Battle Creek, MI$63,916
Salt Lake City, UT$63,897
Lancaster, PA$63,799
Harrisburg, PA$63,707
Kansas City, MO$63,642
Champaign, IL$63,629
Kansas City, KS$63,629
Fort Worth, TX$63,622
Columbus, OH$63,611
Boca Raton, FL$63,596
Pittsburgh, PA$63,570
Richmond, VA$63,544
Indianapolis, IN$63,531
Cleveland, OH$63,525
Las Vegas, NV$63,446
Cincinnati, OH$63,446
Petersburg, VA$63,348
Huntsville, AL$63,250
Lansing, MI$63,207
Lebanon, PA$63,198
Pueblo, CO$63,192
Appleton, WI$63,172
Buffalo, NY$63,146
Dayton, OH$63,126
Racine, WI$63,113
Charlotte, NC$63,107
Saint Louis, MO$63,087
York, PA$63,048
Elkhart, IN$63,048
Gastonia, NC$63,035
Billings, MT$63,020
Beaumont, TX$63,002
Lorain, OH$62,989
Benton Harbor, MI$62,976
Toledo, OH$62,963
Binghamton, NY$62,930
Rock Hill, SC$62,924
Rockford, IL$62,891
Springfield, IL$62,865
Elyria, OH$62,859
Fargo, ND$62,859
Flagstaff, AZ$62,813
Fort Lauderdale, FL$62,774
Duluth, MN$62,734
Miami, FL$62,734
Cheyenne, WY$62,689
Grand Forks, ND$62,689
Bangor, ME$62,545
Cedar Rapids, IA$62,473
Durham, NC$62,446
Louisville, KY$62,441
Grand Rapids, MI$62,428
Hialeah, FL$62,421
Casper, WY$62,330
Scranton, PA$62,251
New Orleans, LA$62,232
Virginia Beach, VA$62,225
Akron, OH$62,193
Peoria, IL$62,108
Sarasota, FL$62,095
Nashville, TN$62,049
Omaha, NE$62,049
Green Bay, WI$62,049
Baton Rouge, LA$62,016
Charleston, SC$62,003
Jamestown, NY$61,971
Davenport, IA$61,971
Tucson, AZ$61,938
Saint Petersburg, FL$61,899
Tampa, FL$61,886
Evansville, IN$61,846
Port Arthur, TX$61,846
Bradenton, FL$61,820
Santa Fe, NM$61,703
Orlando, FL$61,585
Clearwater, FL$61,566
Canton, OH$61,429
La Crosse, WI$61,429
Albuquerque, NM$61,389
Newport News, VA$61,383
High Point, NC$61,363
Ogden, UT$61,337
Corpus Christi, TX$61,285
Norfolk, VA$61,246
Laramie, WY$61,246
Rock Island, IL$61,207
Saginaw, MI$61,194
Jacksonville, FL$61,187
Salisbury, NC$61,174
Boise, ID$61,161
Moline, IL$61,128
Fort Myers, FL$61,109
Memphis, TN$61,096
Tulsa, OK$61,063
Waterloo, IA$61,024
Spartanburg, SC$60,958
Lincoln, NE$60,926
Fort Wayne, IN$60,913
Provo, UT$60,906
Cedar Falls, IA$60,828
San Antonio, TX$60,802
Greensboro, NC$60,776
South Bend, IN$60,769
Savannah, GA$60,697
Muskegon, MI$60,671
Birmingham, AL$60,665
Winston Salem, NC$60,633
Lake Charles, LA$60,475
Anderson, IN$60,462
Lexington, KY$60,443
Augusta, GA$60,423
Greenville, SC$60,423
Lima, OH$60,371
Wichita, KS$60,364
Tuscaloosa, AL$60,364
Columbia, SC$60,306
Springfield, OH$60,292
Asheville, NC$60,188
Bloomington, IN$60,142
Knoxville, TN$59,907
Shreveport, LA$59,901
Wilmington, NC$59,816
Roanoke, VA$59,816
Topeka, KS$59,698
Frankfort, KY$59,691
Oklahoma City, OK$59,646
Chillicothe, OH$59,620
Longview, TX$59,613
Melbourne, FL$59,607
Sioux Falls, SD$59,502
Mobile, AL$59,496
Terre Haute, IN$59,470
Altoona, PA$59,431
Amarillo, TX$59,385
Killeen, TX$59,365
Fayetteville, AR$59,313
Chattanooga, TN$59,293
Sioux City, IA$59,235
Idaho Falls, ID$59,222
Lynchburg, VA$59,169
Gainesville, FL$59,085
Portsmouth, OH$59,052
Little Rock, AR$59,039
Lafayette, LA$59,013
Youngstown, OH$59,013
Daytona Beach, FL$58,974
Clarksville, TN$58,967
Pensacola, FL$58,960
Temple, TX$58,956
Hopkinsville, KY$58,765
Erie, PA$58,752
Florence, SC$58,725
Charleston, WV$58,621
Great Falls, MT$58,588
Macon, GA$58,497
Tallahassee, FL$58,490
Fayetteville, NC$58,477
Waco, TX$58,464
Helena, MT$58,419
Pine Bluff, AR$58,394
Vincennes, IN$58,314
Lubbock, TX$58,288
Alamogordo, NM$58,249
Twin Falls, ID$58,190
Rapid City, SD$58,170
Jackson, MS$58,053
Huntington, WV$58,048
Greenville, MS$58,046
Parkersburg, WV$57,980
Montgomery, AL$57,968
Wichita Falls, TX$57,903
Springfield, MO$57,903
Biloxi, MS$57,870
Monroe, LA$57,805
Johnstown, PA$57,759
Sumter, SC$57,733
Columbus, GA$57,726
Pascagoula, MS$57,602
Abilene, TX$57,602
Kingsport, TN$57,433
Albany, GA$57,433
Gulfport, MS$57,413
Alexandria, LA$57,198
Fort Smith, AR$57,034
El Paso, TX$56,858
Las Cruces, NM$56,564
Harlingen, TX$56,398
Pocatello, ID$56,388
Florence, AL$56,303
Brownsville, TX$56,290
Mcallen, TX$56,153
Dothan, AL$56,061
Columbus, MS$55,674
Altus, OK$55,369
Lawton, OK$55,245
Pierre, SD$55,010
What Skills Can Increase a Chemist I's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Analysis (Mentioned in 12.55% 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 2.29% 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.
Quality Assurance (Mentioned in 1.56% Job Postings): Verifying the adherence of product with required specifications and expectations to track and resolve deficiencies prior to product release.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Analysis
12.55%
Analytical Chemistry
2.29%
Quality Assurance
1.56%
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 Chemist I's salary.
Biochemistry: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Decision Making: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Biochemistry
$69,865
7%
Collaboration
$69,212
6%
Decision Making
$69,212
6%
Project Management
$69,212
6%
Authenticity
$69,212
6%
Presentation
$69,212
6%
Get Latest Data
Chemist I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise
Chemist I salary potential scales significantly with company size.
Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $73,068.
While startup companies pay approximate $61,852.
Chemist I Salary by Company Size
Company Size
Employees
Average Salary
Startup
1~50
$61,852
Growth Stage
51~500
$65,399
Established
501~5000
$70,577
Enterprise
5000+
$73,068
Chemist I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Chemist I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the Financial Services and Software & Networking
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average.
In contrast, Chemist positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Chemist I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Chemist I
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services
$97,941
$47.0
50%
Software & Networking
$91,412
$44.0
40%
Biotechnology
$84,882
$41.0
30%
Aerospace & Defense
$78,353
$38.0
20%
Pharmaceuticals
$78,353
$38.0
20%
How Education impacts a Chemist I's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Chemist Is enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree,
higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data,
the median salary for a Chemist I with a Bachelor's Degree is between
$64,376
and $68,659).
Chemist I Salaries by Degree Level
Typical Education for Chemist I
No Diploma0.5%
High School0.7%
Associates1.7%
Bachelors73.1%
Masters16.4%
Doctorate7.6%
view as table
Degree Level
% of user with this level of education
No Diploma
0.5%
High School
0.7%
Associates
1.7%
Bachelors
73.1%
Masters
16.4%
Doctorate
7.6%
view as graph
Chemist I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Chemist I'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.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$58,054
Average$65,294/year
$71,183
$4,838
Average$5,441/month
$5,932
$1,116
Average$1,256/week
$1,369
$28
Average$31/hour
$34
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$71,183
$5,932
$1,369
$34
Average
$65,294
$5,441
$1,256
$31
25th Percentile
$58,054
$4,838
$1,116
$28
Chemist I Salary Growth & Career Path
Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings.
As a Chemist I, you have the following paths for advancement.
The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles.
By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.
Salaries for a Chemist I can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $54,738 in 2023
to around $54,504 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Chemist I salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Chemist I Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$54,738
2024
$54,710
2025
$54,504
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$54,738
2024
$54,710
2025
$54,504
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Chemist I
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers
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Compensation Planning
Common company salaries for Chemist I
Here are companies hiring for Chemist I and their salaries, click below for more details.
C
$128,509/per year
C R Bard Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
H
$124,697/per year
Henry Schein Canada
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$123,899/per year
Nordex Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$120,416/per year
Nipro Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$115,870/per year
Enovis
Biotechnology
the United States
A
$114,553/per year
Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy
Biotechnology
the United States
M
$112,110/per year
MiniMed Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$111,500/per year
Labcorp Drug Development
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$110,229/per year
Life Technologies Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
Z
$106,224/per year
Zimmer Biomet
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$103,077/per year
Promontory Therapeutics
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$102,181/per year
Steris PLC
Biotechnology
the United States
G
$97,274/per year
Gavin Conferences Pty Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$94,764/per year
Endeavor BioMedicines
Biotechnology
the United States
R
$94,402/per year
Replay Holdings LLC
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$94,235/per year
Pleno Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$93,666/per year
Simulaids Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$88,880/per year
NOIRLab/CAS
Biotechnology
the United States
O
$86,468/per year
Onward Technology
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$84,895/per year
LED Medical Diagnostics Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$84,682/per year
Eyeco Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$84,523/per year
Paerosol
Biotechnology
the United States
I
$83,525/per year
IONIQ Sciences Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$82,815/per year
Stateside PPE
Biotechnology
the United States
D
$82,041/per year
Digi Bio
Biotechnology
the United States
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FAQ about Chemist I
1. Where can a Chemist I earn the most?
A Chemist I'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 Chemist I earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Chemist I is $82,355.
2. What is the highest pay for Chemist I?
The highest pay for Chemist I is $76,545.
3. What is the lowest pay for Chemist I?
The lowest pay for Chemist I is $51,462.
4. What are the responsibilities of Chemist I?
Evaluates the chemical and physical properties of various organic and inorganic substances. Utilizes established methods and procedures and laboratory equipment to perform analytical testing of substances. Prepares compounds, reagents and solutions. Develop and write technical reports of testing results. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Work is closely managed.
5. What industry pays the highest salary for Chemist I?
The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Chemist I roles,
with salaries approximately 50% 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.