Chemist salary in Louisiana
Chemists in Louisiana earn a median of $103,890 a year ($49.95 an hour), based on BLS data for 740 workers.
Pay ranges from $58,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $168,460 for the top 10%. That is 14% higher than the national median of $91,240. Louisiana ranks 8th of 51 states for chemists pay. There are 0.38 chemists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.72). The average (mean) salary is $106,810, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chemists in Louisiana
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $58,310 | $28.04 |
| 25th percentile | $77,160 | $37.10 |
| Median | $103,890 | $49.95 |
| 75th percentile | $131,950 | $63.44 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $168,460 | $80.99 |
| Average (mean) | $106,810 | $51.35 |
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 | $8,657.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,328.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,995.77 |
| Weekly | $1,997.88 |
| Hourly | $49.95 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chemist salary in cities in Louisiana
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles, LA | $128,330 | 180 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $107,590 | 270 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $96,100 | 170 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $80,190 | 40 |
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 |
Related jobs in Louisiana
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $69,820 | $33.57 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $91,560 | $44.02 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $94,320 | $45.35 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $97,470 | $46.86 |
| Physicist | $166,240 | $79.92 |
| Hydrologist | $104,520 | $50.25 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $89,560 | $43.06 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $53,360 | $25.65 |
| Chemical Technician | $85,850 | $41.28 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | $57,930 | $27.85 |
| School Psychologist | $69,020 | $33.18 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $69,590 | $33.46 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $91,170 | $43.83 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $76,480 | $36.77 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Louisiana
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 Louisiana?
The median salary for chemists in Louisiana is $103,890 a year, or $49.95 an hour. Pay ranges from $58,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $168,460 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemists make in Louisiana?
The top 10% of chemists in Louisiana earn at least $168,460 a year. The top 25% earn $131,950 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemists in Louisiana?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $58,310 a year, and a quarter of chemists earn $77,160 or less.
How many chemists work in Louisiana?
About 740 chemists are employed in Louisiana, not counting the self-employed.