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Associate Chemist Environmental Salary in the United States

How much does an Associate Chemist Environmental make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Associate Chemist Environmental in the United States is $98,183 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $47.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $118,866
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $89,103 to $109,009
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $80,836
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Associate Chemist Environmental Salaries

An Associate Chemist Environmental'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 Associate Chemist Environmental Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Associate Chemist Environmental'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): $64,795
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $80,364
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $97,386
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $127,721
  • Expert (over 8 years): $149,132
Levels Salary
Chemist I... Level Associate Chemist Environmental$64,795
Chemist I... Level Associate Chemist Environmental$80,364
Associate... Level Associate Chemist Environmental$97,386
Chemist I... Level Associate Chemist Environmental$127,721
Chemist V... Level Associate Chemist Environmental$149,132
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How Do Associate Chemist Environmental 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 Associate Chemist Environmentals. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $108,708.
  • California: $108,295.
  • Massachusetts: $106,852.

Top Paying Cities for Associate Chemist Environmentals

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: $123,838
  • San Francisco: $122,482
  • Oakland: $119,900

What Skills Can Increase an Associate Chemist Environmental's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 12.68% 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 2.31% 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.
  • Laboratory Equipment (Mentioned in 1.51% Job Postings): Utilizing various tools and equipment to conduct scientific researches, teach practical science, or perform laboratory experiments.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 12.68%
Analytical Chemistry 2.31%
Laboratory Equipment 1.51%
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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 an Associate Chemist Environmental's salary.

  • Clinical Diagnostic: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Authenticity: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Clinical Diagnostic $107,019
9%
Authenticity $106,037
8%
Collaboration $104,073
6%
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Associate Chemist Environmental Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Associate Chemist Environmental roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 42% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Associate Chemist Environmental positions in Transportation or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Associate Chemist Environmental as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Associate Chemist Environmental

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$117,819$57.020%
Energy & Utilities$112,910$54.015%
Aerospace & Defense$109,964$53.012%
MFG Durable$108,001$52.010%
Chemicals$106,037$51.08%

How Education impacts an Associate Chemist Environmental's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Associate Chemist Environmentals 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 an Associate Chemist Environmental with a Master's Degree or MBA is between $100,591 and $107,435).

Associate Chemist Environmental Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Associate Chemist Environmental
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.9%
High School 29.8%
Associates 0.9%
Bachelors 29.8%
Masters 31.5%
Doctorate 37.8%
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Associate Chemist Environmental Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Associate Chemist Environmental'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
$89,103
Average $98,183/year
$109,009
$7,425
Average $8,182/month
$9,084
$1,714
Average $1,888/week
$2,096
$43
Average $47/hour
$52
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $109,009 $9,084 $2,096 $52
Average $98,183 $8,182 $1,888 $47
25th Percentile $89,103 $7,425 $1,714 $43

Most common benefits for Associate Chemist Environmental

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

Common company salaries for Associate Chemist Environmental

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

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FAQ about Associate Chemist Environmental

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Associate Chemist Environmental?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Associate Chemist Environmental 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.)

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

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