Chemist salary in Charlottesville, VA
Chemists in the Charlottesville, VA metro area earn a median of $87,260 a year ($41.95 an hour), based on BLS data for 90 workers.
Pay ranges from $53,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $167,560 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $91,240. Pay here is 10% lower than the Virginia statewide median of $96,650. There are 0.76 chemists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $100,090, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chemists in Charlottesville, VA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $53,310 | $25.63 |
| 25th percentile | $67,670 | $32.53 |
| Median | $87,260 | $41.95 |
| 75th percentile | $131,470 | $63.21 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $167,560 | $80.56 |
| Average (mean) | $100,090 | $48.12 |
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 | $7,271.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,635.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,356.15 |
| Weekly | $1,678.08 |
| Hourly | $41.95 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chemist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $144,680 | 2,490 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $96,650 | 80 |
| Richmond, VA | $87,580 | 320 |
| Roanoke, VA | $86,720 | 50 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $81,990 | 200 |
| 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 Charlottesville, VA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $144,580 | $69.51 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $77,850 | $37.43 |
| Physicist | $148,950 | $71.61 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $65,540 | $31.51 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $119,430 | $57.42 |
| Biological Technician | $66,590 | $32.02 |
| Chemical Technician | $52,600 | $25.29 |
| Social Science Research Assistant | $53,260 | $25.61 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $86,540 | $41.61 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $85,170 | $40.95 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $66,830 | $32.13 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $78,780 | $37.88 |
| Survey Researcher | $74,010 | $35.58 |
| School Psychologist | $80,900 | $38.90 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Charlottesville, VA
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 Charlottesville, VA?
The median salary for chemists in the Charlottesville, VA metro area is $87,260 a year, or $41.95 an hour. Pay ranges from $53,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $167,560 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemists make in Charlottesville, VA?
The top 10% of chemists in the Charlottesville, VA metro area earn at least $167,560 a year. The top 25% earn $131,470 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemists in Charlottesville, VA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $53,310 a year, and a quarter of chemists earn $67,670 or less.
How many chemists work in Charlottesville, VA?
About 90 chemists are employed in the Charlottesville, VA metro area, not counting the self-employed.