Chemists in Iowa. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where Iowa chemists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $68,740 and $106,810, with a median of $86,100.
Chemists in Iowa: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 22 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $79,591. 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 | 10 | $61,425 |
| Level II — qualified | 5 | $82,006 |
| Level III — experienced | 7 | $98,863 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Chemists in Iowa. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cambrex Charles City, Inc. | Chemist I, QC | 13 | $88,693 |
| Iowa State University of Science and Technology | Postdoctoral Research Associate | 4 | $66,390 |
| The University of Iowa | Postdoctoral Research Scholar | 3 | $61,428 |
| AgCertain Boone, LLC | Team Leader, Quality Control | 1 | $78,000 |
| Perspective Therapeutics, Inc. | Organic Chemist | 1 | $95,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Postdoctoral Research Associate at Iowa State University of Science and Technology$66,000AmesWage Level IDecided Mar 13, 2026I-200-26066-687490
- Sr. Scientist I - AD at Cambrex Charles City, Inc.$88,693Charles CityWage Level IIDecided Sep 26, 2025I-200-25262-322193
- Team Leader, Quality Control at AgCertain Boone, LLC$78,000BooneWage Level IDecided Jun 11, 2025I-200-25155-050558
- Organic Chemist at Perspective Therapeutics, Inc.$95,000CoralvilleWage Level IIDecided Apr 14, 2025I-200-25097-838169
- Scientist II, AD at Cambrex Charles City, Inc.$75,712Charles CityWage Level IIDecided Mar 13, 2025I-200-25065-751001
- Postdoctoral Research Scholar at The University of Iowa$61,422Iowa CityWage Level IDecided Feb 18, 2025I-200-25041-681002
- Assistant Research Scientist at The University of Iowa$70,000Iowa CityWage Level IDecided Jan 21, 2025I-200-25013-614761
- Postdoctoral Research Scholar at The University of Iowa$61,428Iowa CityWage Level IDecided Jan 14, 2025I-200-25006-596427
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.
Where do you stand?
Get an instant percentile reading. Anonymous, no signup.
Aggregate unlocks once 5 readers have shared a salary for this role and state.
Chemists pay by experience level in Iowa
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 Iowa
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 14 certified offers. The most common variant is Scientist II, AD at a median of $98,432.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scientist II, AD | Cambrex Charles City, Inc. | 4 | $98,432 |
| Sr. Scientist III- AD | Cambrex Charles City, Inc. | 4 | $97,665 |
| Chemist I, QC | Cambrex Charles City, Inc. | 3 | $58,261 |
| Postdoctoral Research Associate | Iowa State University of Science and Technology | 3 | $66,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Chemists in Iowa, by industry
Median offered wage across 22 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Manufacturing leads with a median of $88,693.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | Cambrex Charles City, Inc. | 15 | $88,693 |
| Education | Iowa State University of Science and Technology | 7 | $66,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Iowa 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.
Sponsored
Build the skills employers list for Chemists
Online courses from licensed providers. We may earn a commission when you enroll. The commission does not influence our rankings or wage data.
Explore coursesCompare Chemists pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Iowa with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Chemists in Iowa?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Chemists in Iowa is $86,100.
- How does Iowa compare to the national median for Chemists?
- The Iowa median is -7.4% versus the BLS national figure of $93,017.
- What is the salary range for Chemists in Iowa?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $65,270 and the 90th-percentile at $137,560, 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.