Chemist salary in West Virginia
Chemists in West Virginia earn a median of $85,560 a year ($41.14 an hour), based on BLS data for 180 workers.
Pay ranges from $59,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $132,380 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $91,240. West Virginia ranks 27th of 51 states for chemists pay. There are 0.26 chemists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.49). The average (mean) salary is $92,500, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chemists in West Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $59,600 | $28.66 |
| 25th percentile | $73,730 | $35.45 |
| Median | $85,560 | $41.14 |
| 75th percentile | $111,360 | $53.54 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $132,380 | $63.65 |
| Average (mean) | $92,500 | $44.47 |
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 | $7,130 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,565 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,290.77 |
| Weekly | $1,645.38 |
| Hourly | $41.14 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chemist salary in cities in West Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $144,680 | 2,490 |
| Charleston, WV | $88,640 | 30 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $82,990 | 40 |
| Morgantown, WV | $81,970 | 40 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $76,110 | 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 West Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $82,100 | $39.47 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $76,060 | $36.57 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $80,690 | $38.80 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $86,560 | $41.62 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $77,040 | $37.04 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $52,590 | $25.28 |
| Social Science Research Assistant | $51,140 | $24.59 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $82,690 | $39.76 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | $81,470 | $39.17 |
| School Psychologist | $75,220 | $36.16 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $84,590 | $40.67 |
| Chemical Technician | $58,750 | $28.24 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $59,750 | $28.73 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $46,350 | $22.28 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in West 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 West Virginia?
The median salary for chemists in West Virginia is $85,560 a year, or $41.14 an hour. Pay ranges from $59,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $132,380 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemists make in West Virginia?
The top 10% of chemists in West Virginia earn at least $132,380 a year. The top 25% earn $111,360 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemists in West Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $59,600 a year, and a quarter of chemists earn $73,730 or less.
How many chemists work in West Virginia?
About 180 chemists are employed in West Virginia, not counting the self-employed.