Chemical Technician salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Chemical Technicians in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $57,880 a year ($27.83 an hour), based on BLS data for 470 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $91,190 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $60,390. Pay here is 2% higher than the District of Columbia statewide median of $56,530. There are 0.15 chemical technicians per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.40). The average (mean) salary is $61,490, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chemical technicians in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,800 | $18.17 |
| 25th percentile | $45,650 | $21.95 |
| Median | $57,880 | $27.83 |
| 75th percentile | $69,620 | $33.47 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $91,190 | $43.84 |
| Average (mean) | $61,490 | $29.56 |
Half of chemical technicians earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,823.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,411.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,226.15 |
| Weekly | $1,113.08 |
| Hourly | $27.83 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $57,880 salary, see how much house you can afford in District of Columbia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chemical Technician salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $73,090 | 60 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $66,940 | 1,370 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $62,710 | 50 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $57,670 | 120 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $55,340 | 40 |
| Salisbury, MD | $52,950 | 30 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $52,600 | 150 |
| Richmond, VA | $50,790 | 360 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $49,820 | 200 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $43,080 | 290 |
Highest-paying states for chemical technicians
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Louisiana | $85,850 |
| Alaska | $79,380 |
| Delaware | $78,620 |
| South Carolina | $75,020 |
| Missouri | $68,550 |
| Massachusetts | $67,570 |
| Arizona | $65,860 |
| Vermont | $65,560 |
| Hawaii | $63,910 |
| Colorado | $63,770 |
See Chemical Technician pay in every state or the District of Columbia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Social Science Research Assistant | $65,330 | $31.41 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $80,600 | $38.75 |
| Biological Technician | $63,510 | $30.53 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $85,070 | $40.90 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $57,150 | $27.48 |
| Agricultural Technician | $58,730 | $28.24 |
| Forest and Conservation Technicians | $66,930 | $32.18 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $138,250 | $66.47 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $107,110 | $51.49 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $114,920 | $55.25 |
| Economist | $156,750 | $75.36 |
| Political Scientist | $156,730 | $75.35 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $170,980 | $82.20 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $108,160 | $52.00 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-4031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chemical technician make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for chemical technicians in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $57,880 a year, or $27.83 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $91,190 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemical technicians make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of chemical technicians in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $91,190 a year. The top 25% earn $69,620 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemical technicians in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,800 a year, and a quarter of chemical technicians earn $45,650 or less.
How many chemical technicians work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 470 chemical technicians are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.