Chemists in Michigan. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where Michigan chemists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $66,490 and $131,190, with a median of $97,440.
Chemists in Michigan: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 64 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $78,372. 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 | 25 | $60,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 16 | $79,974 |
| Level III — experienced | 12 | $100,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 9 | $138,839 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Chemists in Michigan. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings. Click a company for its full H-1B salary breakdown.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Michigan | Postdoctoral Research Fellow | 8 | $69,000 |
| WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY | POST-DOCTORAL FELLOW | 7 | $56,035 |
| Michigan State University | Research Associate | 5 | $58,011 |
| BASF Corporation | Regional Product Dev Specialist-Salads / Senior Scientist I | 4 | $122,118 |
| General Motors | Senior Researcher | 3 | $129,979 |
| PPL Pharma Solutions Riverview LLC | Analytical Scientist | 3 | $91,495 |
| tesa tape inc. | Product Developer | 3 | $77,230 |
| Bonita Pharmaceuticals LLC | Pharmaceutical Product Compliance Analyst | 2 | $98,750 |
| DDP Specialty Electronic Materials US, LLC | Senior Scientist | 2 | $130,793 |
| DOW SILICONES CORPORATION | Senior Research Specialist | 2 | $104,530 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Senior Researcher at General Motors$129,979WarrenWage Level IVDecided Mar 31, 2026I-200-26083-726235
- Analytical Scientist at PPL Pharma Solutions Riverview LLC$91,495RiverviewWage Level IIDecided Mar 30, 2026I-200-26082-721935
- Senior Research Specialist at DOW SILICONES CORPORATION$84,094AuburnWage Level IIIDecided Mar 16, 2026I-200-26068-690609
- POST-DOCTORAL FELLOW at WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY$60,000DETROITWage Level IDecided Mar 11, 2026I-200-26063-678701
- Associate Research Scientist at THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY$143,208MidlandWage Level IVDecided Mar 6, 2026I-200-26059-671465
- POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW at WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY$65,000DETROITWage Level IDecided Feb 11, 2026I-200-26035-618962
- Research Laboratory Specialist Senior at University of Michigan$72,000Ann ArborWage Level IVDecided Jan 20, 2026I-200-26012-551023
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow at University of Michigan$70,000Ann ArborWage Level IDecided Dec 10, 2025I-200-25337-455187
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 Michigan
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 Michigan
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 35 certified offers. The most common variant is Research Associate at a median of $58,094.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research Associate | Michigan State University | 8 | $58,094 |
| Principal Scientist | BASF Corporation | 8 | $114,000 |
| Chemist | Kingfa Science & Technology (USA), Inc. | 5 | $60,000 |
| Postdoctoral Research Fellow | University of Michigan | 5 | $65,000 |
| Product Developer | tesa tape inc. | 3 | $77,230 |
| Assistant Research Scientist | KLA Corporation | 3 | $124,528 |
| Senior Researcher | General Motors | 3 | $129,979 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Chemists in Michigan, by industry
Median offered wage across 64 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Manufacturing leads with a median of $100,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | BASF Corporation | 29 | $100,000 |
| Education | University of Michigan | 24 | $62,000 |
| Professional services | RTI Laboratories Inc | 7 | $64,480 |
| Retail and wholesale | Bonita Pharmaceuticals LLC | 3 | $96,500 |
| Government and public sector | MICHIGAN PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE | 1 | $92,606 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Michigan 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 Michigan
Metro-level salary data for chemists in major Michigan metropolitan areas.
- Detroit$85,770
Compare Chemists pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Michigan with another state
Related roles in Michigan
Occupations in the same field, with Michigan salary data.
How Chemists pay compares nationally
Put this Michigan figure in context with our national salary data reports.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Chemists in Michigan?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Chemists in Michigan is $97,440.
- How does Michigan compare to the national median for Chemists?
- The Michigan median is +4.8% versus the BLS national figure of $93,017.
- What is the salary range for Chemists in Michigan?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $56,260 and the 90th-percentile at $164,200, 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.
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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.