Salary distribution
Where Oregon chemists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $75,740 and $103,870, with a median of $84,150.
Chemists in Oregon: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 12 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $84,400. 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 | 1 | $75,130 |
| Level II — qualified | 2 | $84,400 |
| Level III — experienced | 1 | $81,099 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 5 | $100,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Chemists in Oregon. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. | Scientist II, Field Applications | 3 | $100,000 |
| Oregon State University | Postdoctoral Scholar | 2 | $67,008 |
| HEXION INC. | R&D Chemist | 2 | $84,400 |
| Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. | Scientist III, Research & Development (Computation | 1 | $96,139 |
| Central Oregon Processing LLC | CHEMIST | 1 | $105,000 |
| LONZA BEND INC. | SR. SCIENTIST, PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT | 1 | $118,278 |
| Inentec, Inc. | Analytical Chemist | 1 | $75,130 |
| Oregon Health & Science University | Postdoctoral Scholar | 1 | $70,482 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Postdoctoral Scholar at Oregon State University$67,824CorvallisDecided Sep 16, 2025I-200-25252-296780
- Scientist III, Field Applications at Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.$100,000HillsboroWage Level IVDecided Aug 22, 2025I-200-25227-246627
- R&D Chemist at HEXION INC.$84,400SpringfieldWage Level IIDecided Jun 20, 2025I-200-25163-087234
- Scientist III, Research & Development (Computation at Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.$96,139BendWage Level IVDecided May 27, 2025I-200-25139-991818
- R&D Chemist at HEXION INC.$84,400SpringfieldWage Level IIDecided May 12, 2025I-200-25126-940630
- Scientist II, Field Applications at Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.$81,099HillsboroWage Level IIIDecided May 6, 2025I-200-25119-915688
- CHEMIST at Central Oregon Processing LLC$105,000PrinevilleWage Level IVDecided Apr 29, 2025I-200-25112-890517
- SR. SCIENTIST, PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT at LONZA BEND INC.$118,278BendWage Level IVDecided Mar 25, 2025I-200-25077-784242
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 Oregon
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 Oregon
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 8 certified offers. The most common variant is Scientist II, Field Applications at a median of $100,000.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scientist II, Field Applications | Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. | 5 | $100,000 |
| Postdoctoral Scholar | Oregon State University | 3 | $67,824 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Chemists in Oregon, by industry
Median offered wage across 12 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $96,139.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. | 5 | $96,139 |
| Manufacturing | HEXION INC. | 4 | $94,700 |
| Education | Oregon State University | 3 | $67,824 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Oregon 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 Oregon metropolitan areas.
- Portland$81,070
Compare Chemists pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Chemists in Oregon?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Chemists in Oregon is $84,150.
- How does Oregon compare to the national median for Chemists?
- The Oregon median is -4.6% versus the BLS national figure of $88,164.
- What is the salary range for Chemists in Oregon?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $60,750 and the 90th-percentile at $127,500, 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.