Chemist salary in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
Chemists in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area earn a median of $81,500 a year ($39.18 an hour), based on BLS data for 480 workers.
Pay ranges from $61,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $173,430 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $91,240. Pay here is 3% lower than the New Jersey statewide median of $84,450. There are 2.0 chemists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $99,340, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chemists in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,680 | $29.66 |
| 25th percentile | $70,110 | $33.71 |
| Median | $81,500 | $39.18 |
| 75th percentile | $119,350 | $57.38 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $173,430 | $83.38 |
| Average (mean) | $99,340 | $47.76 |
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 | $6,791.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,395.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,134.62 |
| Weekly | $1,567.31 |
| Hourly | $39.18 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
See Chemist pay in every state or the New Jersey statewide figures.
Related jobs in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $78,010 | $37.51 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $117,840 | $56.65 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $92,150 | $44.30 |
| Materials Scientist | $117,650 | $56.56 |
| Hydrologist | $128,320 | $61.69 |
| Physicist | $135,030 | $64.92 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $100,000 | $48.08 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $133,870 | $64.36 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $124,300 | $59.76 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $48,610 | $23.37 |
| Biological Technician | $77,170 | $37.10 |
| Chemical Technician | $55,670 | $26.77 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $58,480 | $28.11 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $128,850 | $61.95 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
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 Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
The median salary for chemists in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area is $81,500 a year, or $39.18 an hour. Pay ranges from $61,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $173,430 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemists make in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
The top 10% of chemists in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area earn at least $173,430 a year. The top 25% earn $119,350 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemists in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $61,680 a year, and a quarter of chemists earn $70,110 or less.
How many chemists work in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
About 480 chemists are employed in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area, not counting the self-employed.