Chemist salary in Madison, WI
Chemists in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median of $78,730 a year ($37.85 an hour), based on BLS data for 780 workers.
Pay ranges from $52,020 for the lowest-paid 10% to $109,450 for the top 10%. That is 14% lower than the national median of $91,240. Pay here is about the same as the Wisconsin statewide median of $78,730. There are 1.9 chemists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $79,940, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chemists in Madison, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,020 | $25.01 |
| 25th percentile | $64,760 | $31.14 |
| Median | $78,730 | $37.85 |
| 75th percentile | $84,790 | $40.77 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $109,450 | $52.62 |
| Average (mean) | $79,940 | $38.44 |
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 | $6,560.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,280.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,028.08 |
| Weekly | $1,514.04 |
| Hourly | $37.85 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $99,280 | 1,420 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $95,430 | 40 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $91,560 | 50 |
| Kenosha, WI | $84,520 | 80 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $82,260 | 90 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $78,860 | 440 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $78,260 | 130 |
| Green Bay, WI | $74,660 | 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 Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in Madison, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $76,520 | $36.79 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $107,970 | $51.91 |
| Physicist | $136,450 | $65.60 |
| Hydrologist | $81,310 | $39.09 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $84,520 | $40.64 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $95,580 | $45.95 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $85,570 | $41.14 |
| Biological Technician | $51,750 | $24.88 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $77,550 | $37.28 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $86,650 | $41.66 |
| Chemical Technician | $60,720 | $29.19 |
| Microbiologist | $67,940 | $32.66 |
| Conservation Scientist | $85,110 | $40.92 |
| Agricultural Technician | $47,030 | $22.61 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Madison, WI
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 Madison, WI?
The median salary for chemists in the Madison, WI metro area is $78,730 a year, or $37.85 an hour. Pay ranges from $52,020 for the lowest-paid 10% to $109,450 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemists make in Madison, WI?
The top 10% of chemists in the Madison, WI metro area earn at least $109,450 a year. The top 25% earn $84,790 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemists in Madison, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $52,020 a year, and a quarter of chemists earn $64,760 or less.
How many chemists work in Madison, WI?
About 780 chemists are employed in the Madison, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.