Chemist salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Chemists in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $144,680 a year ($69.56 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,490 workers.
Pay ranges from $82,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $195,190 for the top 10%. That is 59% higher than the national median of $91,240. Pay here is 3% lower than the District of Columbia statewide median of $149,860. There are 0.79 chemists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $144,550, close to the median.
Pay range for chemists in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $82,780 | $39.80 |
| 25th percentile | $111,530 | $53.62 |
| Median | $144,680 | $69.56 |
| 75th percentile | $176,340 | $84.78 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $195,190 | $93.84 |
| Average (mean) | $144,550 | $69.50 |
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 | $12,056.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,028.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,564.62 |
| Weekly | $2,782.31 |
| Hourly | $69.56 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $144,680 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.
Chemist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Lexington Park, MD | $131,810 | 60 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $118,880 | 610 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $96,650 | 80 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $95,440 | 4,520 |
| Charleston, WV | $88,640 | 30 |
| Richmond, VA | $87,580 | 320 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $87,260 | 90 |
| Roanoke, VA | $86,720 | 50 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $82,990 | 40 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $81,990 | 200 |
| Morgantown, WV | $81,970 | 40 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $76,110 | 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 District of Columbia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $170,980 | $82.20 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $108,160 | $52.00 |
| Physicist | $171,580 | $82.49 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $117,600 | $56.54 |
| Astronomer | $156,750 | $75.36 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $132,620 | $63.76 |
| Materials Scientist | $127,490 | $61.29 |
| Hydrologist | $152,730 | $73.43 |
| 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 |
| Social Science Research Assistant | $65,330 | $31.41 |
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 19-2031. 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for chemists in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $144,680 a year, or $69.56 an hour. Pay ranges from $82,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $195,190 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemists make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of chemists in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $195,190 a year. The top 25% earn $176,340 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemists in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $82,780 a year, and a quarter of chemists earn $111,530 or less.
How many chemists work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 2,490 chemists are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.