Chemist salary in New Jersey
Chemists in New Jersey earn a median of $84,450 a year ($40.60 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,280 workers.
Pay ranges from $60,910 for the lowest-paid 10% to $144,030 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $91,240. New Jersey ranks 30th of 51 states for chemists pay. There are 1.2 chemists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $96,980, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chemists in New Jersey
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,910 | $29.28 |
| 25th percentile | $75,050 | $36.08 |
| Median | $84,450 | $40.60 |
| 75th percentile | $109,470 | $52.63 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $144,030 | $69.24 |
| Average (mean) | $96,980 | $46.63 |
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 | $7,037.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,518.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,248.08 |
| Weekly | $1,624.04 |
| Hourly | $40.60 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chemist salary in cities in New Jersey
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $105,610 | 40 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $95,440 | 4,520 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $85,150 | 6,750 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $81,500 | 480 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $79,600 | 400 |
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 New Jersey
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $79,210 | $38.08 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $109,990 | $52.88 |
| Physicist | $163,270 | $78.49 |
| Materials Scientist | $103,150 | $49.59 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $88,500 | $42.55 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $120,180 | $57.78 |
| Hydrologist | $126,680 | $60.90 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $129,280 | $62.16 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $90,610 | $43.56 |
| Chemical Technician | $58,580 | $28.16 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $127,090 | $61.10 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $122,620 | $58.95 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $55,980 | $26.91 |
| School Psychologist | $95,160 | $45.75 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in New Jersey
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 New Jersey?
The median salary for chemists in New Jersey is $84,450 a year, or $40.60 an hour. Pay ranges from $60,910 for the lowest-paid 10% to $144,030 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemists make in New Jersey?
The top 10% of chemists in New Jersey earn at least $144,030 a year. The top 25% earn $109,470 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemists in New Jersey?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $60,910 a year, and a quarter of chemists earn $75,050 or less.
How many chemists work in New Jersey?
About 5,280 chemists are employed in New Jersey, not counting the self-employed.