Chemist salary in Virginia
Chemists in Virginia earn a median of $96,650 a year ($46.47 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,640 workers.
Pay ranges from $52,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $166,230 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $91,240. Virginia ranks 21st of 51 states for chemists pay. There are 0.40 chemists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.75). The average (mean) salary is $104,120, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chemists in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,870 | $25.42 |
| 25th percentile | $65,980 | $31.72 |
| Median | $96,650 | $46.47 |
| 75th percentile | $136,660 | $65.70 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $166,230 | $79.92 |
| Average (mean) | $104,120 | $50.06 |
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 | $8,054.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,027.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,717.31 |
| Weekly | $1,858.65 |
| Hourly | $46.47 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chemist salary in cities in Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $144,680 | 2,490 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $96,650 | 80 |
| Richmond, VA | $87,580 | 320 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $87,260 | 90 |
| Roanoke, VA | $86,720 | 50 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $81,990 | 200 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $63,960 | 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 |
Related jobs in Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $82,230 | $39.53 |
| Physicist | $145,040 | $69.73 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $83,880 | $40.33 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $88,390 | $42.49 |
| Materials Scientist | $124,150 | $59.69 |
| Hydrologist | $132,080 | $63.50 |
| Astronomer | $128,930 | $61.99 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $93,620 | $45.01 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $90,800 | $43.66 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $140,670 | $67.63 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $67,240 | $32.33 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $86,520 | $41.60 |
| Biological Technician | $53,360 | $25.65 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $86,030 | $41.36 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Virginia
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 Virginia?
The median salary for chemists in Virginia is $96,650 a year, or $46.47 an hour. Pay ranges from $52,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $166,230 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemists make in Virginia?
The top 10% of chemists in Virginia earn at least $166,230 a year. The top 25% earn $136,660 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemists in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $52,870 a year, and a quarter of chemists earn $65,980 or less.
How many chemists work in Virginia?
About 1,640 chemists are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.