How much does a chemist make in Washington?
$144,700a year
Median yearly pay for chemists in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area. That is $69.56 an hour or $12,060 a month.
- Hourly
- $69.56
- Vs. national median
- +59%
- Rank among cities
- 1 of 212
- Jobs in the area
- 2,490
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $82,780Median: $144,700Highest 10%: $195,200
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $82,780 | $39.80 | |
| 25th | $111,500 | $53.62 | |
| Median | $144,700 | $69.56 | |
| 75th | $176,300 | $84.78 | |
| 90th | $195,200 | $93.84 |
Other cities in District of Columbia
Median yearly pay for chemists.
| No other city in the state with data. |
Related jobs in Washington
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Physicist | $171,600 |
| Physical Scientist | $171,000 |
| Astronomer | $156,800 |
| Economist | $156,800 |
| Political Scientist | $156,700 |
| Hydrologist | $152,700 |
| Social Scientist and Related Worker | $138,300 |
| Geoscientist | $132,600 |
| Psychologist | $129,700 |
| Materials Scientist | $127,500 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chemist make an hour in Washington?
The median hourly pay in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $69.56 ($144,700 a year).
Do chemists make more in Washington than the national average?
Yes: $144,700 against $91,240 nationally, 59% more.
How does Washington compare with the rest of District of Columbia?
The median in District of Columbia is $149,900, so Washington pays 3% less.
Where does Washington rank for chemist pay?
1 of 212 metro areas with data.
How much does a chemist make starting out in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% make $82,780 or less a year; the top 10% make $195,200 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.