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 $61,480 and $109,870, with a median of $81,410.
Chemists in Michigan: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 59 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $77,293. 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 | 21 | $59,030 |
| Level II — qualified | 15 | $77,293 |
| Level III — experienced | 11 | $100,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 6 | $141,269 |
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.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Michigan | Postdoctoral Research Fellow | 8 | $68,000 |
| Michigan State University | Research Associate | 5 | $58,011 |
| WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY | POST-DOCTORAL FELLOW | 5 | $51,355 |
| BASF Corporation | Technical Service Rep II | 4 | $122,118 |
| tesa tape inc. | Product Developer | 3 | $77,230 |
| Perrigo Research and Development Company | Scientist II, Formulation R&D | 2 | $105,618 |
| Zoetis, Inc. | Scientist | 2 | $106,000 |
| RTI Laboratories Inc | Chemist | 2 | $59,550 |
| Kingfa Science & Technology (USA), Inc. | Chemist | 2 | $68,162 |
| DDP Specialty Electronic Materials US, LLC | Senior Scientist | 2 | $130,793 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow at University of Michigan$70,000Ann ArborDecided Dec 10, 2025I-200-25337-455187
- Scientist II, Formulation R&D at Perrigo Research and Development Company$100,000AlleganDecided Nov 28, 2025I-200-25324-426015
- Scientist at Zoetis, Inc.$87,000KalamazooDecided Nov 24, 2025I-200-25321-412088
- Advanced Chemical Analyst at Ferris State University$62,000Big RapidsWage Level IDecided Sep 4, 2025I-200-25239-270705
- SENIOR CHEMIST AND QUALITY CONTROL MANAGER at DIVERSITAK, INC$75,005DETROITWage Level IIDecided Sep 3, 2025I-200-25238-267358
- Research Associate at Michigan State University$58,011East LansingWage Level IDecided Aug 8, 2025I-200-25213-216727
- Research Associate at Michigan State University$52,662East LansingWage Level IDecided Aug 8, 2025I-200-25213-216576
- Research Investigator at University of Michigan$68,000Ann ArborWage Level IIIDecided Jul 30, 2025I-200-25204-195640
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 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 28 certified offers. The most common variant is Scientist II, Formulation R&D at a median of $114,000.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scientist II, Formulation R&D | Zoetis, Inc. | 8 | $114,000 |
| Research Associate | Michigan State University | 7 | $58,011 |
| Postdoctoral Research Fellow | University of Michigan | 5 | $65,000 |
| Chemist | RTI Laboratories Inc | 5 | $60,000 |
| Product Developer | tesa tape inc. | 3 | $77,230 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Chemists in Michigan, by industry
Median offered wage across 59 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Manufacturing leads with a median of $101,500.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | BASF Corporation | 26 | $101,500 |
| Education | University of Michigan | 22 | $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 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 Michigan metropolitan areas.
- Detroit$79,220
Compare Chemists pay across nearby states
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 $81,410.
- How does Michigan compare to the national median for Chemists?
- The Michigan median is -7.7% versus the BLS national figure of $88,164.
- What is the salary range for Chemists in Michigan?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $50,760 and the 90th-percentile at $143,160, 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.