Chemists in Massachusetts. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where Massachusetts chemists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $85,830 and $164,760, with a median of $125,000.
Chemists in Massachusetts: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 225 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $119,413. 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 | 44 | $79,082 |
| Level II — qualified | 58 | $102,500 |
| Level III — experienced | 60 | $125,500 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 58 | $154,231 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Chemists in Massachusetts. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| ModernaTX, Inc. | Sr. Scientist, Analytical Development | 13 | $102,116 |
| Eli Lilly and Company | Advisor - Synthetic Chemistry | 12 | $150,347 |
| Veranova, L.P. | Analytical Scientist | 12 | $104,326 |
| Amgen Inc. | Process Development Senior Scientist | 9 | $132,000 |
| Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated | Medicinal Chemistry Senior Research Scientist | 7 | $119,413 |
| Wave Life Sciences USA, Inc. | Senior Scientist I, Process Development | 7 | $167,000 |
| Alkermes, Inc. | Senior Scientist | 6 | $150,000 |
| Alnylam US, Inc. | Senior Associate Scientist | 6 | $103,500 |
| Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Inc. | Discovery Postdoctoral Fellow | 6 | $108,587 |
| Sanofi Pasteur Inc. | mRNA, Scientist Plasmid Analytics and Sequencing | 6 | $119,413 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Process Development Senior Scientist at Amgen Inc.$138,864CambridgeWage Level IIIDecided —I-200-26084-729418
- QC Chemist I at InvaGen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.$70,800Fall RiverWage Level IDecided Mar 24, 2026I-200-26076-708165
- Senior Scientist, LC-MS at Dash Bio, Inc.$125,000WalthamWage Level IIDecided Mar 19, 2026I-200-26071-699985
- Chemist at FerroByte, Inc.$108,160BostonWage Level IIDecided Mar 18, 2026I-200-26070-695416
- QA Analyst II at InvaGen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.$85,000Fall RiverWage Level IIDecided Mar 17, 2026I-200-26069-691460
- Scientist, DMPK at Biogen, Inc.$117,000CambridgeWage Level IIDecided Mar 16, 2026I-200-26068-688236
- Senior Scientist II, Process Development at Wave Life Sciences USA, Inc.$170,400LexingtonWage Level IVDecided Mar 9, 2026I-200-26061-674497
- Research Fellow at Harvard University$77,500BostonWage Level IDecided Mar 9, 2026I-200-26061-673842
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 Massachusetts
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 Massachusetts
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 157 certified offers. The most common variant is Senior Scientist at a median of $126,000.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Scientist | Alkermes, Inc. | 96 | $126,000 |
| Research Associate | Harvard University | 15 | $79,082 |
| Process Development Senior Scientist | Amgen Inc. | 9 | $132,000 |
| Analytical Scientist | Veranova, L.P. | 7 | $110,000 |
| Associate Research Scientist | Northeastern University | 6 | $110,033 |
| QC Chemist | InvaGen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 4 | $71,973 |
| Chemist | A Chemtek, Inc. | 4 | $124,080 |
| Manager, Contract Manufacturing Operations | BlueRock Therapeutics LP | 4 | $152,899 |
| Senior Specialist | ModernaTX, Inc. | 3 | $100,000 |
| Associate Director, Chemistry | Atalanta Therapeutics, Inc. | 3 | $185,000 |
| Medicinal Chemistry Senior Research Scientist | Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated | 3 | $119,923 |
| Postdoctoral Associate | Alnylam US, Inc. | 3 | $100,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Chemists in Massachusetts, by industry
Median offered wage across 225 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $119,962.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | ModernaTX, Inc. | 110 | $119,962 |
| Manufacturing | Eli Lilly and Company | 95 | $119,995 |
| Education | Harvard University | 12 | $79,082 |
| Retail and wholesale | IM PRO MAKEUP NY LP | 5 | $106,080 |
| Healthcare | General Hospital Corporation | 2 | $152,000 |
| Technology and software | INTUNE SYSTEMS INC | 1 | $76,086 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Massachusetts 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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Metro-level salary data for chemists in major Massachusetts metropolitan areas.
- Boston$127,290
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Chemists in Massachusetts?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Chemists in Massachusetts is $125,000.
- How does Massachusetts compare to the national median for Chemists?
- The Massachusetts median is +34.4% versus the BLS national figure of $93,017.
- What is the salary range for Chemists in Massachusetts?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $71,120 and the 90th-percentile at $212,210, 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.