Salary levels for chemists vary based on education, experience, and the area in which they work. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, median annual earnings for all chemists were $76,890 in May 2018. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $43,920, and the highest paid 10 percent made more than $133,180 annually. Chemists working for the federal government had mean incomes of $114,030, while those employed in pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing earned $81,600.

According to the American Chemical Society's 2015 salary survey, salaries tend to be highest on the East Coast, Middle Altlantic and West Coast. In addition, those working in industry usually have the highest earnings with median annual earnings totaling $115,000, while those in academia have the lowest with median annual salaries totaling $78,000. In addition, those chemists who have a Ph.D. generally earn more money per year than those chemists who do not.

As highly trained, full-time professionals, most chemists receive health insurance, paid vacations, retirement plans, and sick leave. The specifics of these benefits vary from employer to employer. Chemists who teach at the college or university level usually work on an academic calendar, which means they get extensive breaks from teaching classes during summer and winter recesses.

Chemists

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