What are the main factors that influence a Cosmetic Chemist's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Cosmetic Chemist's salary?

A Cosmetic Chemist's salary grows with experience: starting around $55,918 for beginners, reaching about $57,506 at mid-level, and approach $65,372 for experts.

What are the highest paying states for a Cosmetic Chemist?

Cosmetic Chemist salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Cosmetic Chemist roles are District of Columbia $62,616, California $62,378, Massachusetts $61,547. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Cosmetic Chemist roles make?

Salaries for Cosmetic Chemist level roles vary by specialization: Cosmetic Surgeon: $417,761; Cosmetic Dermatologist: $255,632; Cosmetic Dentist: $180,423; Chemist: $99,825; Cosmetic Formulation Chemist: $71,390.

How do different companies affect a Cosmetic Chemist's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Cosmetic Chemist roles. Large, established industry leaders like New York Police Department ($97,099) and State of New York - Metropolitan Transportation Authority ($95,962) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $75,106.

Cosmetic Chemist Salary in the United States

How much does a Cosmetic Chemist make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Cosmetic Chemist in the United States is $56,553 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $27.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $87,827
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $51,980 to $72,923
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $47,816

10% $47,816

50% (Median) $56,553

90% $87,827

Cosmetic Chemist Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$72,923	$6,077	$1,402	$35
Average	$56,553	$4,713	$1,088	$27
25th Percentile	$51,980	$4,332	$1,000	$25

Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

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Key Factors That Influence Cosmetic Chemist Salaries

A Cosmetic Chemist'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 Cosmetic Chemist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Cosmetic Chemist'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): $55,918
Early Career (1-2 years): $56,109
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $57,506
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $64,428
Expert (over 8 years): $65,372

Levels	Salary
Entry Level Cosmetic Chemist	$55,918
Intermediate Level Cosmetic Chemist	$56,109
Senior Level Cosmetic Chemist	$57,506
Specialist Level Cosmetic Chemist	$64,428
Expert Level Cosmetic Chemist	$65,372

View as Graph

How Do Cosmetic Chemist 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 Cosmetic Chemists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $62,616.
California: $62,378.
Massachusetts: $61,547.

District of Columbia $62,616 California $62,378 Massachusetts $61,547 Washington $61,321 New Jersey $61,298 Alaska $61,219 Connecticut $60,438 New York $60,122

Hawaii $59,109 Rhode Island $58,634 Maryland $58,312 Minnesota $57,871 Colorado $57,701 Illinois $57,645 Oregon $57,430 Delaware $57,271

New Hampshire $57,172 Virginia $56,949 Pennsylvania $56,299 Nevada $55,971 North Dakota $55,863 Michigan $55,694 Wisconsin $55,631 Vermont $55,507

Texas $55,162 Maine $55,139 Arizona $55,105 Ohio $55,066 Georgia $54,546 Indiana $54,285 Wyoming $54,235 Utah $54,155

Iowa $54,121 Kansas $53,850 Louisiana $53,771 North Carolina $53,743 Missouri $53,731 Florida $53,511 Montana $53,392 Nebraska $53,279

Kentucky $53,217 South Carolina $52,990 Tennessee $52,849 Idaho $52,792 New Mexico $52,380 Oklahoma $52,289 Alabama $51,955 South Dakota $51,396

Arkansas $51,090 West Virginia $50,926 Mississippi $50,434

Top Paying Cities for Cosmetic Chemists

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: $71,331
San Francisco: $70,550
Oakland: $69,063

San Jose, CA $71,331

San Francisco, CA $70,550

Oakland, CA $69,063

New York, NY $65,115

Paramus, NJ $64,323

Queens Village, NY $64,320

Passaic, NJ $64,266

Bergenfield, NJ $64,261

Stamford, CT $64,137

Huntington, NY $64,114

Newark, NJ $63,696

Bridgeport, CT $63,577

Vallejo, CA $63,464

New Brunswick, NJ $63,441

Petaluma, CA $63,407

Middlesex, NJ $63,300

Somerset, NJ $63,260

Santa Cruz, CA $63,187

Boston, MA $62,842

Monterey, CA $62,643

Seattle, WA $62,514

Santa Rosa, CA $62,503

Los Angeles, CA $62,486

Juneau, AK $62,339

Washington, DC $62,276

Orange, CA $62,075

Santa Ana, CA $61,926

Long Beach, CA $61,869

Anaheim, CA $61,858

Anchorage, AK $61,830

Santa Maria, CA $61,660

Everett, WA $61,649

Danbury, CT $61,450

Bremerton, WA $61,372

Tacoma, WA $61,168

New Suffolk, NY $61,167

Sacramento, CA $61,151

Santa Barbara, CA $61,089

Trenton, NJ $61,027

San Diego, CA $61,027

Brockton, MA $60,964

Fairbanks, AK $60,826

Lompoc, CA $60,682

Lowell, MA $60,636

Ventura, CA $60,625

Nashua, NH $60,614

Stockton, CA $60,608

Modesto, CA $60,195

Poughkeepsie, NY $60,071

Olympia, WA $59,963

Kennewick, WA $59,963

New Haven, CT $59,941

Lawrence, MA $59,737

Hartford, CT $59,681

Riverside, CA $59,669

New Bedford, MA $59,613

Richland, WA $59,613

Bakersfield, CA $59,534

San Bernardino, CA $59,511

New Britain, CT $59,505

Atlantic City, NJ $59,505

New London, CT $59,483

Norwich, CT $59,466

Portsmouth, NH $59,454

Boulder, CO $59,334

Portland, OR $59,256

Worcester, MA $59,251

Minneapolis, MN $59,075

Philadelphia, PA $58,996

Honolulu, HI $58,810

Saint Paul, MN $58,783

Vineland, NJ $58,770

Providence, RI $58,606

Chicago, IL $58,442

Bellingham, WA $58,374

Springfield, MA $58,329

Baltimore, MD $58,312

Chico, CA $58,171

Pittsfield, MA $58,018

Manchester, NH $57,910

Spokane, WA $57,662

Denver, CO $57,656

Albany, NY $57,390

Troy, NY $57,368

Nassau, NY $57,307

Schenectady, NY $57,249

Wilmington, DE $57,204

Burlington, VT $57,124

Salem, OR $57,102

Portland, ME $56,926

Yakima, WA $56,870

Rochester, MN $56,695

Reno, NV $56,666

Fresno, CA $56,666

Milwaukee, WI $56,615

Detroit, MI $56,559

Ann Arbor, MI $56,549

Allentown, PA $56,542

Colorado Springs, CO $56,446

Syracuse, NY $56,417

Carson City, NV $56,417

Houston, TX $56,338

Eugene, OR $56,310

Gary, IN $56,242

Springfield, OR $56,197

Bismarck, ND $56,186

Galveston, TX $56,146

Medford, OR $56,061

Fort Collins, CO $56,039

Concord, NH $56,010

Austin, TX $55,993

Mesa, AZ $55,875

Reading, PA $55,869

Phoenix, AZ $55,863

Dallas, TX $55,846

Saint Cloud, MN $55,792

Madison, WI $55,716

Utica, NY $55,564

Rochester, NY $55,473

Des Moines, IA $55,467

Raleigh, NC $55,462

Atlanta, GA $55,377

Battle Creek, MI $55,360

Salt Lake City, UT $55,343

Lancaster, PA $55,258

Harrisburg, PA $55,179

Kansas City, MO $55,122

Champaign, IL $55,111

Kansas City, KS $55,111

Fort Worth, TX $55,105

Columbus, OH $55,096

Boca Raton, FL $55,083

Pittsburgh, PA $55,060

Richmond, VA $55,038

Indianapolis, IN $55,026

Cleveland, OH $55,021

Las Vegas, NV $54,953

Cincinnati, OH $54,953

Petersburg, VA $54,868

Huntsville, AL $54,783

Lansing, MI $54,745

Lebanon, PA $54,738

Pueblo, CO $54,732

Appleton, WI $54,715

Buffalo, NY $54,693

Dayton, OH $54,676

Racine, WI $54,664

Charlotte, NC $54,659

Saint Louis, MO $54,642

York, PA $54,608

Elkhart, IN $54,608

Gastonia, NC $54,597

Billings, MT $54,583

Beaumont, TX $54,568

Lorain, OH $54,557

Benton Harbor, MI $54,546

Toledo, OH $54,534

Binghamton, NY $54,506

Rock Hill, SC $54,500

Rockford, IL $54,472

Springfield, IL $54,449

Elyria, OH $54,444

Fargo, ND $54,444

Flagstaff, AZ $54,404

Fort Lauderdale, FL $54,370

Duluth, MN $54,336

Miami, FL $54,336

Cheyenne, WY $54,297

Grand Forks, ND $54,297

Bangor, ME $54,172

Cedar Rapids, IA $54,110

Durham, NC $54,086

Louisville, KY $54,082

Grand Rapids, MI $54,071

Hialeah, FL $54,065

Casper, WY $53,986

Scranton, PA $53,918

New Orleans, LA $53,901

Virginia Beach, VA $53,895

Akron, OH $53,867

Peoria, IL $53,793

Sarasota, FL $53,782

Nashville, TN $53,743

Omaha, NE $53,743

Green Bay, WI $53,743

Baton Rouge, LA $53,714

Charleston, SC $53,703

Jamestown, NY $53,675

Davenport, IA $53,675

Tucson, AZ $53,646

Saint Petersburg, FL $53,612

Tampa, FL $53,601

Evansville, IN $53,567

Port Arthur, TX $53,567

Bradenton, FL $53,545

Santa Fe, NM $53,443

Orlando, FL $53,341

Clearwater, FL $53,324

Canton, OH $53,205

La Crosse, WI $53,205

Albuquerque, NM $53,171

Newport News, VA $53,166

High Point, NC $53,149

Ogden, UT $53,126

Corpus Christi, TX $53,081

Norfolk, VA $53,047

Laramie, WY $53,047

Rock Island, IL $53,013

Saginaw, MI $53,002

Jacksonville, FL $52,996

Salisbury, NC $52,985

Boise, ID $52,973

Moline, IL $52,945

Fort Myers, FL $52,928

Memphis, TN $52,917

Tulsa, OK $52,889

Waterloo, IA $52,855

Spartanburg, SC $52,798

Lincoln, NE $52,770

Fort Wayne, IN $52,758

Provo, UT $52,753

Cedar Falls, IA $52,685

San Antonio, TX $52,662

Greensboro, NC $52,640

South Bend, IN $52,634

Savannah, GA $52,572

Muskegon, MI $52,549

Birmingham, AL $52,544

Winston Salem, NC $52,516

Lake Charles, LA $52,380

Anderson, IN $52,368

Lexington, KY $52,351

Augusta, GA $52,334

Greenville, SC $52,334

Lima, OH $52,289

Wichita, KS $52,283

Tuscaloosa, AL $52,283

Columbia, SC $52,233

Springfield, OH $52,221

Asheville, NC $52,131

Bloomington, IN $52,091

Knoxville, TN $51,888

Shreveport, LA $51,882

Wilmington, NC $51,808

Roanoke, VA $51,808

Topeka, KS $51,707

Frankfort, KY $51,700

Oklahoma City, OK $51,661

Chillicothe, OH $51,639

Longview, TX $51,633

Melbourne, FL $51,627

Sioux Falls, SD $51,537

Mobile, AL $51,531

Terre Haute, IN $51,509

Altoona, PA $51,475

Amarillo, TX $51,435

Killeen, TX $51,418

Fayetteville, AR $51,373

Chattanooga, TN $51,356

Sioux City, IA $51,305

Idaho Falls, ID $51,294

Lynchburg, VA $51,249

Gainesville, FL $51,175

Portsmouth, OH $51,147

Little Rock, AR $51,135

Lafayette, LA $51,113

Youngstown, OH $51,113

Daytona Beach, FL $51,079

Clarksville, TN $51,073

Pensacola, FL $51,068

Temple, TX $51,064

Hopkinsville, KY $50,898

Erie, PA $50,887

Florence, SC $50,864

Charleston, WV $50,773

Great Falls, MT $50,745

Macon, GA $50,666

Tallahassee, FL $50,660

Fayetteville, NC $50,649

Waco, TX $50,638

Helena, MT $50,598

Pine Bluff, AR $50,577

Vincennes, IN $50,508

Lubbock, TX $50,485

Alamogordo, NM $50,451

Twin Falls, ID $50,400

Rapid City, SD $50,383

Jackson, MS $50,281

Huntington, WV $50,277

Greenville, MS $50,276

Parkersburg, WV $50,218

Montgomery, AL $50,208

Wichita Falls, TX $50,151

Springfield, MO $50,151

Biloxi, MS $50,123

Monroe, LA $50,067

Johnstown, PA $50,027

Sumter, SC $50,004

Columbus, GA $49,999

Pascagoula, MS $49,891

Abilene, TX $49,891

Kingsport, TN $49,744

Albany, GA $49,744

Gulfport, MS $49,727

Alexandria, LA $49,541

Fort Smith, AR $49,399

El Paso, TX $49,247

Las Cruces, NM $48,992

Harlingen, TX $48,848

Pocatello, ID $48,839

Florence, AL $48,766

Brownsville, TX $48,755

Mcallen, TX $48,636

Dothan, AL $48,557

Columbus, MS $48,221

Altus, OK $47,957

Lawton, OK $47,850

Pierre, SD $47,646

Cosmetic Chemist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Cosmetic Chemist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Healthcare and Retail & Wholesale sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Cosmetic Chemist positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Cosmetic Chemist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Cosmetic Chemist

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare	$67,864	$33.0	20%
Retail & Wholesale	$62,209	$30.0	10%

How Education impacts a Cosmetic Chemist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Cosmetic Chemists enter the field with a No Diploma 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 Cosmetic Chemist with a No Diploma is between $53,836 and $58,390).

Cosmetic Chemist Salaries by Degree Level

$66,800
$65,000
$63,100
$61,300
$59,400
$57,600
$55,700
$53,900

Typical Education for Cosmetic Chemist
Degree Level	% of user with this level of education
No Diploma	100.0%
High School	100.0%
Associates	0.0%
Bachelors	0.0%
Masters	0.0%
Doctorate	0.0%

View as Graph

Cosmetic Chemist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Cosmetic Chemist'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.

$51,980

Average $56,553/year

$72,923

$4,332

Average $4,713/month

$6,077

$1,000

Average $1,088/week

$1,402

$25

Average $27/hour

$35

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$72,923	$6,077	$1,402	$35
Average	$56,553	$4,713	$1,088	$27
25th Percentile	$51,980	$4,332	$1,000	$25

Salary Trends for Cosmetic Chemist

Salaries for a Cosmetic Chemist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $45,302 in 2023 to around $44,621 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Cosmetic Chemist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Cosmetic Chemist Over Time

$???
$45,302
$45,147
$44,621
$???
$???

2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$45,302
2024	$45,147
2025	$44,621
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Cosmetic Chemist

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

Common company salaries for Cosmetic Chemist

Here are companies hiring for Cosmetic Chemist and their salaries, click below for more details.

N $97,099/per year

New York Police Department Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

S $95,962/per year

State of New York - Metropolitan Transportation Authority Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

U $94,615/per year

US Department of Transportation Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

U $93,141/per year

US General Services Administration Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

L $92,342/per year

Los Angeles County Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

D $92,011/per year

Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

U $91,967/per year

US Department of Commerce Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

U $91,755/per year

US Department of Energy Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

F $91,673/per year

Federal Bureau of Investigation Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

N $90,276/per year

Naval Sea Systems Command Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

T $88,975/per year

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

S $88,721/per year

San Diego County Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

T $88,664/per year

The TTB Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

L $87,569/per year

Lutheran Services Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

M $85,066/per year

Maryland Inc Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

S $83,780/per year

State University of New York Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

N $82,969/per year

New York State Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

P $82,703/per year

Puerto Rico Department of Education Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

U $80,526/per year

US Central Command Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

H $80,286/per year

Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

A $79,270/per year

Air Force Reserve Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

A $78,505/per year

American Automobile Association (AAA) Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

S $76,678/per year

State of Florida - Department of Health Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

N $75,183/per year

New York State Department Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

S $75,106/per year

State University System of Florida Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

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FAQ about Cosmetic Chemist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Cosmetic Chemist?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Cosmetic Chemist roles, with salaries approximately 20% 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.)

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Cosmetic Chemist Salary in the United States

How much does a Cosmetic Chemist make in the United States?

Key Factors That Influence Cosmetic Chemist Salaries

How Experience Level Affects Cosmetic Chemist Salaries?

How Do Cosmetic Chemist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Top Paying Cities for Cosmetic Chemists

Cosmetic Chemist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

The top paying industries for a Cosmetic Chemist

How Education impacts a Cosmetic Chemist's Salary?

Cosmetic Chemist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Cosmetic Chemist

Cosmetic Chemist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Salary Trends for Cosmetic Chemist

Average Annual Salary of Cosmetic Chemist Over Time

Most common benefits for Cosmetic Chemist

Common company salaries for Cosmetic Chemist

Find Your Next Cosmetic Chemist Job

For Employees

For Employers

FAQ about Cosmetic Chemist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Cosmetic Chemist?

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Cosmetic Chemist Salary in the United States

How much does a Cosmetic Chemist make in the United States?

Key Factors That Influence Cosmetic Chemist Salaries

How Experience Level Affects Cosmetic Chemist Salaries?

How Do Cosmetic Chemist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Top Paying Cities for Cosmetic Chemists

Cosmetic Chemist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

The top paying industries for a Cosmetic Chemist

How Education impacts a Cosmetic Chemist's Salary?

Cosmetic Chemist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Cosmetic Chemist

Cosmetic Chemist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Salaries of Jobs related to Cosmetic Chemist

Salary Trends for Cosmetic Chemist

Average Annual Salary of Cosmetic Chemist Over Time

Most common benefits for Cosmetic Chemist

Common company salaries for Cosmetic Chemist

Find Your Next Cosmetic Chemist Job

For Employees

For Employers

FAQ about Cosmetic Chemist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Cosmetic Chemist?

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?