Chemists in Tennessee. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where Tennessee chemists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $58,420 and $104,030, with a median of $87,930.
Chemists in Tennessee: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 44 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $86,673. 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 | 5 | $53,988 |
| Level II — qualified | 21 | $82,728 |
| Level III — experienced | 7 | $136,987 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 11 | $120,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Chemists in Tennessee. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| UT-BATTELLE, LLC (OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY) | Chemist / Materials Scientist - R&D Associate | 21 | $85,643 |
| August Bioservices, LLC | Principal Scientist - Analytical Development | 7 | $120,000 |
| Buckman Laboratories International, Inc. | Chemist II | 4 | $86,640 |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE | Post-Doctoral Research Associate | 3 | $53,988 |
| Vanderbilt University | Postdoctoral Research Scholar | 3 | $62,232 |
| Eastman Chemical Company | Principal Research Scientist | 2 | $133,508 |
| Children's GMP, LLC | Sr Quality Control Specialist | 1 | $65,936 |
| Medicine Counter 01 INC | Formulation Chemist | 1 | $66,997 |
| ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL | Sr Quality Control Specialist | 1 | $65,936 |
| Valero Refining Company - Tennessee, L.L.C. | Sr. Refinery Chemist | 1 | $132,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- R&D Associate - Polymer Synthesis and Characterization at UT-BATTELLE, LLC (OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY)$119,043Oak RidgeWage Level IIDecided Mar 13, 2026I-200-26065-685175
- Sr. Refinery Chemist at Valero Refining Company - Tennessee, L.L.C.$132,000MemphisWage Level IVDecided Feb 4, 2026I-200-26028-597995
- Post-Doctoral Research Associate at THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE$50,000KnoxvilleWage Level IDecided Dec 15, 2025I-200-25342-466177
- Senior Scientist, Analytical Development at August Bioservices, LLC$115,000NashvilleWage Level IVDecided Nov 18, 2025I-200-25314-391835
- Research Assistant Professor at Vanderbilt University$76,003NashvilleWage Level IVDecided Sep 29, 2025I-200-25265-325525
- Postdoctoral Research Associate - Heterogeneous Catalysis at UT-BATTELLE, LLC (OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY)$81,872Oak RidgeWage Level IIDecided Sep 19, 2025I-200-25255-305277
- Senior Research Assistant at Vanderbilt University$48,547NashvilleWage Level IDecided Sep 2, 2025I-200-25237-265420
- Postdoctoral Research Scholar at Vanderbilt University$62,232NashvilleWage Level IIIDecided Aug 29, 2025I-200-25234-262550
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 Tennessee
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 Tennessee
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 13 certified offers. The most common variant is Senior Scientist, Analytical Development at a median of $117,500.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Scientist, Analytical Development | August Bioservices, LLC | 4 | $117,500 |
| Chemist | Buckman Laboratories International, Inc. | 3 | $76,000 |
| Post-Doctoral Research Associate | THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE | 3 | $53,988 |
| Principal Scientist - Analytical Development | August Bioservices, LLC | 3 | $120,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Chemists in Tennessee, by industry
Median offered wage across 44 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $89,951.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | UT-BATTELLE, LLC (OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY) | 30 | $89,951 |
| Education | THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE | 6 | $58,110 |
| Manufacturing | August Bioservices, LLC | 6 | $124,000 |
| Healthcare | ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL | 1 | $65,936 |
| Retail and wholesale | Medicine Counter 01 INC | 1 | $66,997 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Tennessee 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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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Chemists in Tennessee?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Chemists in Tennessee is $87,930.
- How does Tennessee compare to the national median for Chemists?
- The Tennessee median is -5.5% versus the BLS national figure of $93,017.
- What is the salary range for Chemists in Tennessee?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $48,530 and the 90th-percentile at $132,630, 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.