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Hourly Wage for Chemist IV Salary in the United States

How much does a Chemist IV make hourly?

As of May 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Chemist IV in the United States is $62, which translates to an annual salary of about $128,630.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $73 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $55 to $68 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $49 per hour
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View as table View as graph 25% $55 10% $49 90% $73 75% $68 $62 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Chemist IV Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $140,682 $11,724 $2,705 $68
Average $128,630 $10,719 $2,474 $62
25th Percentile $114,857 $9,571 $2,209 $55
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Key Factors That Influence Chemist IV Salaries

A Chemist IV'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 IV'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): $65,284
  • Chemist II (2-4 years): $80,932
  • Chemist III (4-7 years): $98,100
  • Chemist IV (7+ years): $128,630
  • Chemist V (7-10 years): $150,254
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Chemist I0-2 years$65,284
Chemist II2-4 years$80,932
Chemist III4-7 years$98,100
Chemist IV7+ years$128,630
Chemist V7-10 years$150,254
$65,284 Chemist I...
$80,932 Chemist I...
$98,100 Chemist I...
$128,630 Chemist I...
$150,254 Chemist V...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Chemist IVs

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: $162,241
  • San Francisco: $160,465
  • Oakland: $157,083

What Skills Can Increase a Chemist IV's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 12.81% 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 2.05% 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.
  • Chemical Engineering (Mentioned in 1.2% Job Postings): Chemical engineering is a branch of engineering that uses principles of chemistry, physics, mathematics, biology, and economics to efficiently use, produce, design, transport and transform energy and materials. The work of chemical engineers can range from the utilisation of nano-technology and nano-materials in the laboratory to large-scale industrial processes that convert chemicals, raw materials, living cells, microorganisms, and energy into useful forms and products. Chemical engineers are involved in many aspects of plant design and operation, including safety and hazard assessments, process design and analysis, modeling, control engineering, chemical reaction engineering, nuclear engineering, biological engineering, construction specification, and operating instructions. Chemical engineers typically hold a degree in Chemical Engineering or Process Engineering. Practising engineers may have professional certification and be accredited members of a professional body. Such bodies include the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) or the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). A degree in chemical engineering is directly linked with all of the other engineering disciplines, to various extents.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 12.81%
Analytical Chemistry 2.05%
Chemical Engineering 1.2%
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 IV's salary.
  • Product Testing: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Process Improvement: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Housekeeping: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Product Testing
$145,352
13%
Process Improvement
$144,066
12%
Housekeeping
$141,493
10%
Laboratory Equipment
$138,920
8%
Presentation
$138,920
8%
Analytical Chemistry
$138,920
8%
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How Education impacts a Chemist IV's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Chemist IVs enter the field with a Master's Degree or MBA 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 IV with a Master's Degree or MBA is between $124,451 and $131,647).

Chemist IV Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Chemist IV
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.3%
High School 1.3%
Associates 0.8%
Bachelors 18.8%
Masters 24.3%
Doctorate 54.8%
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Chemist IV Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Chemist IV'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 May 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Chemist IV

Salaries for a Chemist IV can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $104,117 in 2023 to around $101,658 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Chemist IV salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Chemist IV Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$104,117
2024
$102,351
2025
$101,658
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $104,117
2024 $102,351
2025 $101,658
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Chemist IV

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Chemist IV

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FAQ about Chemist IV

1. What are the responsibilities of Chemist IV?

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 master's degree in area of specialty. Typically reports to a manager or head of a unit/department. Typically requires 7+ years of related experience. A specialist on complex technical and business matters. Work is highly independent. May assume a team lead role for the work group.

2. What are the skills of Chemist IV

Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.

1.)

Analysis: Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.

2.)

Analytical Chemistry: 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.

3.)

Chemical Engineering: Chemical engineering is a branch of engineering that uses principles of chemistry, physics, mathematics, biology, and economics to efficiently use, produce, design, transport and transform energy and materials. The work of chemical engineers can range from the utilisation of nano-technology and nano-materials in the laboratory to large-scale industrial processes that convert chemicals, raw materials, living cells, microorganisms, and energy into useful forms and products. Chemical engineers are involved in many aspects of plant design and operation, including safety and hazard assessments, process design and analysis, modeling, control engineering, chemical reaction engineering, nuclear engineering, biological engineering, construction specification, and operating instructions. Chemical engineers typically hold a degree in Chemical Engineering or Process Engineering. Practising engineers may have professional certification and be accredited members of a professional body. Such bodies include the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) or the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). A degree in chemical engineering is directly linked with all of the other engineering disciplines, to various extents.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

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