Salary AI Book a Demo

Chemistry Intern Salary in the United States

How much does a Chemistry Intern make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Chemistry Intern in the United States is $78,566 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $38.

However, a Chemistry Intern's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $93,561
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $67,366 to $86,415
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $57,170
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Chemistry Intern Salaries

A Chemistry Intern'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 Chemistry Intern Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Chemistry Intern'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $65,226
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $80,899
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $98,034
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $128,571
  • Expert (over 8 years): $150,124
Levels Salary
Chemist I... Level Chemistry Intern$65,226
Chemistry... Level Chemistry Intern$80,899
Chemist I... Level Chemistry Intern$98,034
Chemist I... Level Chemistry Intern$128,571
Chemist V... Level Chemistry Intern$150,124
View as Graph

How Do Chemistry Intern 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 Chemistry Interns. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $86,988.
  • California: $86,658.
  • Massachusetts: $85,503.

Top Paying Cities for Chemistry Interns

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: $99,095
  • San Francisco: $98,010
  • Oakland: $95,944

What Skills Can Increase a Chemistry Intern's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 13.39% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Calibration (Mentioned in 2.82% Job Postings): In measurement technology and metrology, calibration is the comparison of measurement values delivered by a device under test with those of a calibration standard of known accuracy. Such a standard could be another measurement device of known accuracy, a device generating the quantity to be measured such as a voltage, a sound tone, or a physical artefact, such as a metre ruler. The outcome of the comparison can result in one of the following: no significant error being noted on the device under test a significant error being noted but no adjustment made an adjustment made to correct the error to an acceptable levelStrictly speaking, the term "calibration" means just the act of comparison, and does not include any subsequent adjustment. The calibration standard is normally traceable to a national standard held by a national metrological body.
  • LIMS (Mentioned in 1.56% Job Postings): A Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) is software that allows you to effectively manage samples and associated data.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 13.39%
Calibration 2.82%
LIMS 1.56%
See More Skills

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 Chemistry Intern's salary.

  • Authenticity: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Clinical Diagnostic: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Authenticity $82,494
5%
Collaboration $82,494
5%
Clinical Diagnostic $81,708
4%
Get Latest Data

Chemistry Intern Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Chemistry Intern roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 120% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 60% above the average. In contrast, Chemistry Intern positions in Transportation or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Chemistry Intern as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Chemistry Intern

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$125,705$60.060%
Pharmaceuticals$109,992$53.040%
Financial Services$102,135$49.030%
Business Services$98,207$47.025%
MFG Nondurable$94,279$45.020%

How Education impacts a Chemistry Intern's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Chemistry Interns 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 Chemistry Intern with a Bachelor's Degree is between $80,183 and $85,677).

Chemistry Intern Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Chemistry Intern
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.6%
High School 0.6%
Associates 0.9%
Bachelors 62.3%
Masters 27.3%
Doctorate 8.9%
View as Graph

Chemistry Intern Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Chemistry Intern'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 September 01, 2026
$67,366
Average $78,566/year
$86,415
$5,614
Average $6,547/month
$7,201
$1,296
Average $1,511/week
$1,662
$32
Average $38/hour
$42
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $86,415 $7,201 $1,662 $42
Average $78,566 $6,547 $1,511 $38
25th Percentile $67,366 $5,614 $1,296 $32

Most common benefits for Chemistry Intern

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

Common company salaries for Chemistry Intern

Here are companies hiring for Chemistry Intern and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Chemistry Intern Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Chemistry Intern job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Chemistry Intern

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Chemistry Intern?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Chemistry Intern roles, with salaries approximately 60% 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.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst