Chemists in Indiana. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where Indiana chemists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $63,790 and $99,870, with a median of $78,770.
Chemists in Indiana: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 84 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $108,295. 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 | 15 | $59,280 |
| Level II — qualified | 11 | $71,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 14 | $91,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 43 | $141,402 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Chemists in Indiana. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eli Lilly and Company | Sr. Advisor - Chemistry | 38 | $144,893 |
| Purdue University | Post Doctoral Research Associate | 13 | $60,770 |
| University of Notre Dame du Lac | Research Scientist | 5 | $70,442 |
| CATALENT INDIANA, LLC | QC Supervisor | 3 | $111,590 |
| Corteva Agriscience LLC | Analytical Chemist | 3 | $101,000 |
| Indiana University | Postdoctoral Fellow | 3 | $55,000 |
| Nukemed, Inc. | Radiochemical Manufacturing, Chemist | 3 | $64,958 |
| Bristol-Myers Squibb Company | Scientist I, Radiochemistry | 2 | $189,070 |
| Hubot, Inc. | Quality Control Chemist | 2 | $66,500 |
| Midwest Technology Partnership, LLC | Associate Scientist | 2 | $75,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Research Scientist at University of Notre Dame du Lac$81,869Notre DameWage Level IIIDecided Mar 30, 2026I-200-26082-721600
- Sr. Advisor - Computational ADME/Tox at Eli Lilly and Company$193,249IndianapolisWage Level IVDecided Mar 13, 2026I-200-26065-685425
- Research Scientist, Associate at Purdue University$75,561West LafayetteWage Level IIDecided Jan 23, 2026I-200-26015-561691
- Postdoctoral Fellow at Indiana University$55,000BloomingtonWage Level IDecided Jan 21, 2026I-200-26013-555075
- Research Associate at Purdue University$73,646West LafayetteWage Level IIDecided Dec 12, 2025I-200-25341-463411
- Senior Scientist- Bioanalytical at Eli Lilly and Company$102,000CarmelWage Level IVDecided Nov 25, 2025I-200-25322-417123
- Senior Scientist- Bioanalytical at Eli Lilly and Company$102,000IndianapolisWage Level IVDecided Nov 25, 2025I-200-25322-417120
- Advisor - Global Quality Labs at Eli Lilly and Company$156,710IndianapolisWage Level IVDecided Nov 18, 2025I-200-25315-398194
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 Indiana
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 Indiana
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 37 certified offers. The most common variant is Sr. Advisor - Chemistry at a median of $152,951.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sr. Advisor - Chemistry | Eli Lilly and Company | 11 | $152,951 |
| Associate Scientist | CATALENT INDIANA, LLC | 8 | $97,542 |
| Research Scientist | Purdue University | 5 | $75,561 |
| Post Doctoral Research Associate | Purdue University | 4 | $44,781 |
| Process Chemist | Steel Dynamics, Inc. | 3 | $126,824 |
| Postdoctoral Research Associate | Purdue University | 3 | $60,770 |
| Research Chemist | UNISEAL, INC. | 3 | $130,518 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Chemists in Indiana, by industry
Median offered wage across 84 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Manufacturing leads with a median of $135,480.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | Eli Lilly and Company | 52 | $135,480 |
| Education | Purdue University | 21 | $66,937 |
| Professional services | Corteva Agriscience LLC | 7 | $85,197 |
| Retail and wholesale | Steel Dynamics, Inc. | 2 | $126,824 |
| Technology and software | Midwest Technology Partnership, LLC | 2 | $75,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Indiana 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 Indiana
Metro-level salary data for chemists in major Indiana metropolitan areas.
- Indianapolis$78,770
Compare Chemists pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Indiana with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Chemists in Indiana?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Chemists in Indiana is $78,770.
- How does Indiana compare to the national median for Chemists?
- The Indiana median is -15.3% versus the BLS national figure of $93,017.
- What is the salary range for Chemists in Indiana?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $56,960 and the 90th-percentile at $133,140, 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.