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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2018

19-2031 Chemists

Conduct qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses or experiments in laboratories for quality or process control or to develop new products or knowledge. Excludes "Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers" (19-2042) and "Biochemists and Biophysicists" (19-1021).


National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
84,560 2.5 % $40.31 $83,850 1.0 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $21.12 $27.06 $36.97 $49.91 $64.03
Annual Wage (2) $43,920 $56,290 $76,890 $103,820 $133,180


Industry profile for this occupation: Top

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing 16,530 5.62 $39.23 $81,600
Scientific Research and Development Services 12,370 1.84 $44.63 $92,830
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 8,570 0.59 $32.48 $67,550
Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) 8,260 2.28 $42.57 $88,540
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) 5,590 0.28 $54.82 $114,030

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing 16,530 5.62 $39.23 $81,600
Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) 4,790 2.81 $38.50 $80,080
Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) 8,260 2.28 $42.57 $88,540
Scientific Research and Development Services 12,370 1.84 $44.63 $92,830
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing 1,080 0.96 $42.19 $87,750

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Oil and Gas Extraction 80 0.06 $56.03 $116,550
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) 5,590 0.28 $54.82 $114,030
Management of Companies and Enterprises 2,610 0.11 $48.18 $100,210
Other Specialty Trade Contractors (8) (8) $47.93 $99,690
Health and Personal Care Stores (8) (8) $47.20 $98,170


Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.





States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 10,430 0.61 1.05 $42.58 $88,570
New Jersey 7,460 1.84 3.15 $46.20 $96,100
Pennsylvania 5,460 0.93 1.60 $37.14 $77,250
Texas 5,160 0.43 0.73 $42.06 $87,490
North Carolina 4,370 1.00 1.71 $37.41 $77,820




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Delaware 1,420 3.16 5.40 $50.75 $105,570
New Jersey 7,460 1.84 3.15 $46.20 $96,100
Maryland 3,100 1.16 1.98 $55.80 $116,060
North Carolina 4,370 1.00 1.71 $37.41 $77,820
Pennsylvania 5,460 0.93 1.60 $37.14 $77,250




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 260 0.36 0.62 $58.16 $120,980
Maryland 3,100 1.16 1.98 $55.80 $116,060
Delaware 1,420 3.16 5.40 $50.75 $105,570
Virginia 1,390 0.36 0.62 $47.44 $98,670
New Jersey 7,460 1.84 3.15 $46.20 $96,100





Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 7,960 0.84 1.43 $45.55 $94,750
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 4,280 1.50 2.57 $44.96 $93,520
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 3,140 1.30 2.22 $52.12 $108,400
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 2,990 0.49 0.84 $36.19 $75,280
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 2,890 0.92 1.58 $59.13 $123,000
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 2,670 0.97 1.66 $45.75 $95,150
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 2,500 0.54 0.92 $35.78 $74,430
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 2,010 0.67 1.15 $46.89 $97,530
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 1,760 0.90 1.54 $43.18 $89,810
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN 1,720 1.65 2.83 $33.20 $69,050




Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Kennewick-Richland, WA 590 5.16 8.84 $50.88 $105,830
Trenton, NJ 1,100 4.76 8.14 $45.85 $95,370
Greenville, NC 360 4.75 8.13 $29.87 $62,130
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC 1,100 3.56 6.09 $43.63 $90,750
College Station-Bryan, TX 320 2.84 4.86 $24.05 $50,010
Waterbury, CT 150 2.17 3.71 $48.96 $101,850
Ann Arbor, MI 400 1.83 3.13 $34.05 $70,830
Boulder, CO 330 1.82 3.11 $43.79 $91,080
Idaho Falls, ID 110 1.73 2.96 $46.82 $97,400
Madison, WI 650 1.67 2.86 $33.62 $69,920