Chemist salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Chemists in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn a median of $81,990 a year ($39.42 an hour), based on BLS data for 200 workers.
Pay ranges from $52,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $134,290 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $91,240. Pay here is 15% lower than the Virginia statewide median of $96,650. There are 0.26 chemists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.49). The average (mean) salary is $88,810, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chemists in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,580 | $25.28 |
| 25th percentile | $64,190 | $30.86 |
| Median | $81,990 | $39.42 |
| 75th percentile | $110,590 | $53.17 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $134,290 | $64.56 |
| Average (mean) | $88,810 | $42.70 |
Half of chemists 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 | $6,832.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,416.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,153.46 |
| Weekly | $1,576.73 |
| Hourly | $39.42 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $81,990 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chemist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $144,680 | 2,490 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $98,090 | 240 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $97,690 | 300 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $96,650 | 80 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $92,080 | 30 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $88,890 | 650 |
| Richmond, VA | $87,580 | 320 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $87,260 | 90 |
| Roanoke, VA | $86,720 | 50 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $84,150 | 740 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $81,580 | 1,140 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $80,860 | 110 |
| Wilmington, NC | $78,130 | 400 |
| Asheville, NC | $66,910 | 40 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $63,960 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for chemists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $149,860 |
| Maryland | $140,670 |
| Delaware | $129,860 |
| New Mexico | $126,960 |
| Massachusetts | $125,000 |
| Alaska | $106,010 |
| Oregon | $104,590 |
| Louisiana | $103,890 |
| Wyoming | $102,000 |
| Colorado | $101,980 |
See Chemist pay in every state or the Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $78,600 | $37.79 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $117,640 | $56.56 |
| Physicist | $110,930 | $53.33 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $98,920 | $47.56 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $89,770 | $43.16 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $89,920 | $43.23 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $78,540 | $37.76 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $107,910 | $51.88 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $91,010 | $43.76 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $49,050 | $23.58 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $82,760 | $39.79 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $90,020 | $43.28 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | $59,080 | $28.40 |
| School Psychologist | $86,510 | $41.59 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-2031. 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 chemist make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The median salary for chemists in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $81,990 a year, or $39.42 an hour. Pay ranges from $52,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $134,290 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemists make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The top 10% of chemists in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn at least $134,290 a year. The top 25% earn $110,590 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemists in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $52,580 a year, and a quarter of chemists earn $64,190 or less.
How many chemists work in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
About 200 chemists are employed in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.