Chemist salary in Texas
Chemists in Texas earn a median of $99,640 a year ($47.90 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,130 workers.
Pay ranges from $58,850 for the lowest-paid 10% to $170,250 for the top 10%. That is 9% higher than the national median of $91,240. Texas ranks 13th of 51 states for chemists pay. There are 0.36 chemists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.68). The average (mean) salary is $106,830, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chemists in Texas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $58,850 | $28.29 |
| 25th percentile | $73,160 | $35.18 |
| Median | $99,640 | $47.90 |
| 75th percentile | $139,010 | $66.83 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $170,250 | $81.85 |
| Average (mean) | $106,830 | $51.36 |
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 | $8,303.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,151.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,832.31 |
| Weekly | $1,916.15 |
| Hourly | $47.90 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chemist salary in cities in Texas
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Midland, TX | $131,860 | 70 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $106,740 | 2,430 |
| Longview, TX | $99,880 | 30 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $99,390 | 160 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $93,410 | 80 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $91,040 | 290 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $81,270 | 850 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $79,770 | 300 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $65,080 | 90 |
| El Paso, TX | $63,620 | 80 |
| Waco, TX | $61,880 | 50 |
| Lubbock, TX | $57,090 | 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 Texas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $92,000 | $44.23 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $145,220 | $69.82 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $100,920 | $48.52 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $84,990 | $40.86 |
| Physicist | $184,040 | $88.48 |
| Materials Scientist | $72,700 | $34.95 |
| Hydrologist | $81,080 | $38.98 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $79,660 | $38.30 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $80,470 | $38.69 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $48,960 | $23.54 |
| Chemical Technician | $62,580 | $30.09 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | $57,980 | $27.87 |
| School Psychologist | $83,690 | $40.24 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $83,660 | $40.22 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Texas
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 Texas?
The median salary for chemists in Texas is $99,640 a year, or $47.90 an hour. Pay ranges from $58,850 for the lowest-paid 10% to $170,250 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemists make in Texas?
The top 10% of chemists in Texas earn at least $170,250 a year. The top 25% earn $139,010 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemists in Texas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $58,850 a year, and a quarter of chemists earn $73,160 or less.
How many chemists work in Texas?
About 5,130 chemists are employed in Texas, not counting the self-employed.