LC MS Chemist Salary in the United States

How much does a LC MS Chemist make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a LC MS Chemist in the United States is $100,080 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $48.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $121,196
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $90,840 to $111,133
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $82,428
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View as table View as graph 25% $90,840 10% $82,428 90% $121,196 75% $111,133 $100,080 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

LC MS Chemist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $111,133 $9,261 $2,137 $53
Average $100,080 $8,340 $1,925 $48
25th Percentile $90,840 $7,570 $1,747 $44
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Key Factors That Influence LC MS Chemist Salaries

A LC MS 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 LC MS Chemist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a LC MS 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): $66,050
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $81,911
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $99,268
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $130,181
  • Expert (over 8 years): $152,020
Levels Salary
Chemist I... Level LC MS Chemist$66,050
Chemist I... Level LC MS Chemist$81,911
LC MS Che... Level LC MS Chemist$99,268
Chemist I... Level LC MS Chemist$130,181
Chemist V... Level LC MS Chemist$152,020
$66,050 0 yr
$81,911 < 2 yrs
$99,268 2-4 yrs
$130,181 5-8 yrs
$152,020 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

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

  • District of Columbia: $110,809.
  • California: $110,388.
  • Massachusetts: $108,917.

Top Paying Cities for LC MS 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: $126,231
  • San Francisco: $124,849
  • Oakland: $122,218

What Skills Can Increase a LC MS Chemist'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 LC MS Chemist'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
$109,087
9%
Authenticity
$108,086
8%
Collaboration
$106,085
6%
Forensics
$104,083
4%
Decision Making
$104,083
4%
Project Management
$104,083
4%
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LC MS Chemist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

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

The top paying industries for a LC MS Chemist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$120,096$58.020%
Energy & Utilities$115,092$55.015%
Aerospace & Defense$112,090$54.012%
MFG Durable$110,088$53.010%
Chemicals$108,086$52.08%

How Education impacts a LC MS Chemist's Salary?

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

LC MS Chemist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for LC MS Chemist
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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LC MS Chemist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a LC MS 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.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for LC MS Chemist

Salaries for a LC MS Chemist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $84,207 in 2023 to around $82,065 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of LC MS Chemist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of LC MS Chemist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$84,207
2024
$83,433
2025
$82,065
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $84,207
2024 $83,433
2025 $82,065
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for LC MS Chemist

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

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

Find Your Next LC MS Chemist Job

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

United States
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FAQ about LC MS Chemist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for LC MS Chemist?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for LC MS 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.)

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

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