Salary distribution
Where Illinois chemists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $70,060 and $128,050, with a median of $97,170.
Chemists in Illinois: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 107 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $70,758. 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 | 43 | $64,670 |
| Level II — qualified | 19 | $78,853 |
| Level III — experienced | 22 | $87,341 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 15 | $119,829 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Chemists in Illinois. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Chicago | Postdoctoral Scholar | 20 | $65,533 |
| Northwestern University | Postdoctoral Scholar | 19 | $61,884 |
| AbbVie Inc. | Senior Scientist I, Chemistry | 7 | $131,950 |
| UChicago Argonne, LLC | Postdoctoral Appointee | 5 | $70,758 |
| University of Illinois | Postdoctoral Research Associate | 5 | $53,000 |
| UChicago Argonne LLC | Postdoctoral Appointee | 4 | $69,565 |
| Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC | Principal Scientist, Formulation | 3 | $110,490 |
| Medefil, Inc. | Analytical Scientist I | 3 | $78,853 |
| The University of Chicago | Postdoctoral Scholar | 3 | $69,000 |
| Archer Daniels Midland Company | Research Chemist, NMR Spectroscopy | 3 | $100,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Postdoctoral Scholar at Northwestern University$65,520EvanstonDecided Dec 16, 2025I-200-25344-470574
- Postdoctoral Research Associate at University of Illinois Chicago$65,520ChicagoDecided Dec 8, 2025I-200-25335-446007
- Chemist at AVA Inc.$65,291WillowbrookDecided Dec 4, 2025I-200-25331-442452
- Postdoctoral Scholar at University of Chicago$66,000ChicagoDecided Dec 3, 2025I-200-25329-438336
- Senior Researcher at USG Corporation$120,000LibertyvilleDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25308-370301
- Postdoctoral Appointee at UChicago Argonne, LLC$70,758LemontDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25307-362746
- Manager, Manufacturing at Kashiv BioSciences LLC$137,376ChicagoDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25307-359522
- Senior Scientist II at AbbVie Inc.$155,000North ChicagoWage Level IVDecided Sep 30, 2025I-200-25266-329868
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.
Chemists pay by experience level in Illinois
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 specialties in Illinois
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 77 certified offers. The most common variant is Postdoctoral Scholar at a median of $63,000.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postdoctoral Scholar | University of Chicago | 29 | $63,000 |
| Senior Scientist I, Chemistry | AbbVie Inc. | 14 | $121,189 |
| Postdoctoral Appointee | UChicago Argonne, LLC | 7 | $70,758 |
| Research Associate | Northwestern University | 6 | $66,467 |
| Chemist | AVA Inc. | 5 | $75,000 |
| Research Scientist | University of Illinois | 5 | $95,000 |
| Postdoctoral Research Associate | University of Illinois | 4 | $52,594 |
| Analytical Scientist | Medefil, Inc. | 4 | $81,162 |
| Research Professional | University of Chicago | 3 | $67,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Chemists in Illinois, by industry
Median offered wage across 104 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Education leads with a median of $65,520.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education | University of Chicago | 50 | $65,520 |
| Manufacturing | AbbVie Inc. | 35 | $100,000 |
| Professional services | UChicago Argonne, LLC | 16 | $70,758 |
| Retail and wholesale | AbbVie Inc. | 2 | $170,000 |
| Healthcare | O2M Technologies, LLC | 1 | $63,045 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Illinois over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 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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Metro-level salary data for chemists in major Illinois metropolitan areas.
- Chicago$100,720
Compare Chemists pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Chemists in Illinois?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Chemists in Illinois is $97,170.
- How does Illinois compare to the national median for Chemists?
- The Illinois median is +10.2% versus the BLS national figure of $88,164.
- What is the salary range for Chemists in Illinois?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $59,820 and the 90th-percentile at $154,280, 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.