Lab Chemist III Salary in the United States

How much does a Lab Chemist III make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Lab Chemist III in the United States is $98,379 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $47.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $119,135
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $89,296 to $109,243
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $81,026
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI Onboarding
Smart Recruiting
View as table View as graph 25% $89,296 10% $81,026 90% $119,135 75% $109,243 $98,379 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Lab Chemist III Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $109,243 $9,104 $2,101 $53
Average $98,379 $8,198 $1,892 $47
25th Percentile $89,296 $7,441 $1,717 $43
Check out Lab Chemist III Job Openings in the United States
Physician Oncology Ohio Permanent Associate Medical Director

eviCore healthcare - Columbus, OH

Physician Neurology Ohio Locum Tenens Locums Physician

MD Staff, LLC - Columbus, OH

Local CDL

C.R. England - Columbus, OH

Search More Lab Chemist III Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Lab Chemist III Salaries

A Lab Chemist III'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 Lab Chemist III Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Lab Chemist III'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): $64,927
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $80,518
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $97,580
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $127,967
  • Expert (over 8 years): $149,435
Levels Salary
Chemist I... Level Lab Chemist III$64,927
Chemist I... Level Lab Chemist III$80,518
Lab Chemi... Level Lab Chemist III$97,580
Chemist I... Level Lab Chemist III$127,967
Chemist V... Level Lab Chemist III$149,435
$64,927 0 yr
$80,518 < 2 yrs
$97,580 2-4 yrs
$127,967 5-8 yrs
$149,435 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Lab Chemist III 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 Lab Chemist IIIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $108,925.
  • California: $108,511.
  • Massachusetts: $107,065.

Top Paying Cities for Lab Chemist IIIs

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: $124,085
  • San Francisco: $122,726
  • Oakland: $120,140

What Skills Can Increase a Lab Chemist III'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.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 12.68%
Analytical Chemistry 2.31%
Laboratory Equipment 1.51%
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 Lab Chemist III'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
$107,233
9%
Authenticity
$106,249
8%
Collaboration
$104,281
6%
Forensics
$102,314
4%
Decision Making
$102,314
4%
Project Management
$102,314
4%
Get Latest Data

Lab Chemist III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Lab Chemist III 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, Lab Chemist positions in Transportation or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Lab Chemist III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Lab Chemist III

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$118,054$57.020%
Energy & Utilities$113,135$54.015%
Aerospace & Defense$110,184$53.012%
MFG Durable$108,216$52.010%
Chemicals$106,249$51.08%

How Education impacts a Lab Chemist III's Salary?

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

Lab Chemist III Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Lab Chemist III
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%
view as graph

Lab Chemist III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Lab Chemist III'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 August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Lab Chemist III

Salaries for a Lab Chemist III can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $82,776 in 2023 to around $80,669 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Lab Chemist III salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Lab Chemist III Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$82,776
2024
$82,014
2025
$80,669
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $82,776
2024 $82,014
2025 $80,669
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Lab Chemist III

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

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Common company salaries for Lab Chemist III

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

Find Your Next Lab Chemist III Job

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

United States
  • Maxim Healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    Maxim Healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Private duty nursing (PDN) allows medically fragile patients to receive quality, skilled nursing care in the comfort of their home: a setting preferred by ... more

    13 Days Ago

  • XPO

    Columbus, OH

    CDL

    XPO | Columbus, OH

    XPO is Hiring Driver Teams. XPO Teams. As an XPO Team, you’ll run dedicated routes between XPO facilities in. new sleeper. trucks equipped with microwaves ... more

    13 Days Ago

  • Schneider

    Columbus, OH

    Schneider | Columbus, OH

    CDL-A - Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Average pay. $1,200-$1,450 weekly. Home time. Daily. Experience. Al... more

    14 Days Ago

  • Summit Recruiting Group

    Columbus, OH

    Summit Recruiting Group | Columbus, OH

    NP/PA Dermatology job opening in Columbus, OHPosition Details. Full-time, permanent opening. Experience required. Well-Established Practice. Seeking a NP/P... more

    15 Days Ago

  • Family Dollar

    Columbus, OH

    Family Dollar | Columbus, OH

    Customer Service Associate. We're seeking a Customer Service Associate to join our team and deliver a great shopping experience for every customer. Duties ... more

    16 Days Ago

  • GO Staffing

    Columbus, OH

    GO Staffing | Columbus, OH

    Locums - A well respected group has a Trauma Surgery APP opportunity available in Columbus, Ohio. Certified Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant. 1/1/... more

    16 Days Ago

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

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

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

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

Price My Industry Jobs

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

FAQ about Lab Chemist III

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Lab Chemist III?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Lab Chemist III 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.

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