Salary distribution
Where Pennsylvania chemists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $57,770 and $84,240, with a median of $63,450.
Chemists in Pennsylvania: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 111 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $92,000. 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 | 42 | $65,817 |
| Level II — qualified | 16 | $98,267 |
| Level III — experienced | 21 | $105,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 16 | $118,347 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Chemists in Pennsylvania. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frontage Laboratories, Inc. | Scientist | 14 | $73,599 |
| TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | Research Associate | 6 | $83,779 |
| KVK-Tech, Inc. | Chemist | 5 | $95,000 |
| Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories Professional Scientific Services, LLC | Analytical Separations Scientist | 5 | $72,571 |
| PPG Industries, Inc. | Product Development Chemist, Expert | 4 | $103,722 |
| PPL Healthcare, LLC | Senior Analytical Scientist | 3 | $130,725 |
| Flamma USA LLC | Sr. Analytical Chemist | 3 | $110,420 |
| Adare Pharmaceuticals Inc. | Analytical Scientist | 3 | $92,000 |
| Med Valley Inc. | Product Development Chemist | 3 | $70,000 |
| Carnegie Mellon University | Postdoctoral Research Associate | 3 | $61,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Senior Analytical Scientist at PPL Healthcare, LLC$130,725SellersvilleDecided Dec 29, 2025I-200-25353-498585
- Principal Scientist at GlaxoSmithKline LLC$97,500CollegevilleDecided Dec 26, 2025I-200-25352-494472
- Research Associate at TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA$101,046PhiladelphiaDecided Dec 26, 2025I-200-25352-493584
- Staff Formulator at Quotient Sciences - Philadelphia, LLC$92,000BoothwynDecided Dec 22, 2025I-200-25350-484666
- Global Staff Scientist - KBGFJG229460-2 at Johnson Matthey Stationary Emissions Control LLC$111,916WayneDecided Dec 19, 2025I-200-25346-477932
- Research Chemist at Advanced Materials & Catalysts LLC$119,393ConshohockenDecided Dec 19, 2025I-200-25346-478249
- CHEMIST at ABX-CRO Inc.$120,000NEWTOWNDecided Dec 17, 2025I-200-25344-471690
- Research Associate at TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA$101,046PhiladelphiaDecided Dec 12, 2025I-200-25339-462081
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 Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 65 certified offers. The most common variant is Scientist at a median of $78,822.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scientist | Frontage Laboratories, Inc. | 26 | $78,822 |
| Chemist | KVK-Tech, Inc. | 8 | $105,000 |
| Product Development Chemist | PPG Industries, Inc. | 5 | $102,840 |
| Analytical Scientist | PPL Healthcare, LLC | 4 | $94,944 |
| Research Scientist | i3 Pharmaceuticals, LLC | 4 | $89,993 |
| Research Associate | TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | 3 | $101,046 |
| Research Chemist | Advanced Materials & Catalysts LLC | 3 | $97,698 |
| Group Leader | Frontage Laboratories, Inc. | 3 | $98,647 |
| Postdoctoral Researcher | TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | 3 | $67,830 |
| Postdoctoral Research Associate | Carnegie Mellon University | 3 | $61,000 |
| Sr. Research Specialist | Avery Dennison Corporation | 3 | $114,733 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Chemists in Pennsylvania, by industry
Median offered wage across 111 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $79,040.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Frontage Laboratories, Inc. | 47 | $79,040 |
| Manufacturing | KVK-Tech, Inc. | 46 | $103,722 |
| Education | TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | 14 | $67,065 |
| Retail and wholesale | Cardolite Corporation | 2 | $125,000 |
| Healthcare | The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia | 1 | $65,640 |
| Energy and utilities | Specialty Minerals Inc. | 1 | $116,694 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania metropolitan areas.
- Philadelphia$76,620
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Chemists in Pennsylvania?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Chemists in Pennsylvania is $63,450.
- How does Pennsylvania compare to the national median for Chemists?
- The Pennsylvania median is -28.0% versus the BLS national figure of $88,164.
- What is the salary range for Chemists in Pennsylvania?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $47,180 and the 90th-percentile at $128,480, 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.