Chemists in Colorado. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where Colorado chemists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $77,910 and $132,560, with a median of $101,980.
Chemists in Colorado: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 20 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $93,252. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 4 | $55,567 |
| Level II — qualified | 4 | $96,981 |
| Level III — experienced | 6 | $112,149 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 3 | $130,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Chemists in Colorado. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Colorado | Research Associate, Chemist | 6 | $90,650 |
| Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC | Postdoctoral Researcher - Chemistry | 3 | $90,775 |
| Corden Pharma Colorado, Inc. | Principal Analytical Chemist | 3 | $124,000 |
| Danone North America Public Benefit Corporation | Analytical Performance Manager | 1 | $88,962 |
| Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | SCIENTIST I - CHEM DEV | 1 | $130,000 |
| Eli Lilly and Company | Sr. Scientist | 1 | $105,847 |
| Hazen Research, Inc. | Laboratory Analyst | 1 | $58,032 |
| Johns Manville | Senior Research Scientist | 1 | $153,800 |
| Novo Nordisk Research & Development US, Inc. | SCIENTIST I - CHEM DEV | 1 | $130,000 |
| Third Party Verification and Validation, LLC | Chemist | 1 | $100,298 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Research Associate, Chemist at University of Colorado$90,824BoulderDecided Dec 2, 2025I-200-25328-432743
- SCIENTIST I - CHEM DEV at Novo Nordisk Research & Development US, Inc.$130,000BoulderWage Level IIIDecided Sep 16, 2025I-200-25252-295686
- Principal Analytical Chemist “ Mass Spectrometry at Corden Pharma Colorado, Inc.$130,000BoulderWage Level IIIDecided Sep 12, 2025I-200-25248-288927
- Sr. Scientist at Eli Lilly and Company$105,847LouisvilleWage Level IIDecided Aug 28, 2025I-200-25233-259395
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow at University of Denver$53,102DenverWage Level IDecided Aug 19, 2025I-200-25224-237826
- Postdoctoral Researcher - Chemistry at Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC$68,800GoldenWage Level IIDecided Jul 7, 2025I-200-25178-134154
- Chemist at Third Party Verification and Validation, LLC$100,298DenverWage Level IIIDecided Jun 18, 2025I-200-25162-080721
- Principal Analytical Chemist at Corden Pharma Colorado, Inc.$124,000BoulderWage Level IIIDecided May 12, 2025I-200-25125-937393
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Chemists pay by experience level in Colorado
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Chemists in Colorado, by industry
Median offered wage across 23 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Education leads with a median of $90,650.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education | University of Colorado | 8 | $90,650 |
| Professional services | Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC | 7 | $90,775 |
| Manufacturing | Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 4 | $130,000 |
| Retail and wholesale | Corden Pharma Colorado, Inc. | 4 | $114,500 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Colorado over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.9 / 5
Chemistry
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Science
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Critical Thinking
Cross-functional
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Develop, improve, or customize products, equipment, formulas, processes, or analytical methods.
- 02
Analyze organic or inorganic compounds to determine chemical or physical properties, composition, structure, relationships, or reactions, using chromatography, spectroscopy, or spectrophotometry techniques.
- 03
Induce changes in composition of substances by introducing heat, light, energy, or chemical catalysts for quantitative or qualitative analysis.
- 04
Conduct quality control tests.
- 05
Write technical papers or reports or prepare standards and specifications for processes, facilities, products, or tests.
- 06
Prepare test solutions, compounds, or reagents for laboratory personnel to conduct tests.
- 07
Maintain laboratory instruments to ensure proper working order and troubleshoot malfunctions when needed.
- 08
Study effects of various methods of processing, preserving, or packaging on composition or properties of foods.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+4.8%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in Colorado
Metro-level salary data for chemists in major Colorado metropolitan areas.
- Denver$102,390
Compare Chemists pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Colorado with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Chemists in Colorado?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Chemists in Colorado is $101,980.
- How does Colorado compare to the national median for Chemists?
- The Colorado median is +9.6% versus the BLS national figure of $93,017.
- What is the salary range for Chemists in Colorado?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $61,260 and the 90th-percentile at $162,680, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Chemists a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 4.8% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Chemists?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.