Salary distribution
Where Virginia chemists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $73,570 and $132,510, with a median of $99,810.
Chemists in Virginia: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 29 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $87,630. 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 | $57,400 |
| Level II — qualified | 6 | $117,728 |
| Level III — experienced | 8 | $87,630 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 5 | $109,400 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Chemists in Virginia. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University | Research Scientist | 8 | $84,423 |
| The University of Virginia | Research Associate | 4 | $60,700 |
| Granules Pharmaceuticals Inc. | Scientist | 4 | $119,592 |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Process Scientist | 3 | $83,205 |
| PPD Development, L.P. | Research Scientist | 2 | $87,630 |
| The Veritas Healthcare Solutions LLC | QC Chemist | 1 | $116,272 |
| DuPont Specialty Products USA, LLC | Senior Scientist - Engineer | 1 | $130,000 |
| Altria Client Services LLC | Sr. Scientist II | 1 | $122,600 |
| DULLES GEOTECHNICAL AND MATERIAL TESTING SERVICES, INC. | Quality Control Laboratory Chemist and Inspector | 1 | $52,000 |
| Celanese Corporation | Advanced Engineer, Product Technology | 1 | $109,400 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Research Associate at The University of Virginia$56,000CharlottesvilleWage Level IDecided Sep 30, 2025I-200-25266-327104
- Research Scientist at PPD Development, L.P.$87,630RichmondWage Level IIIDecided Sep 15, 2025I-200-25251-293228
- Research Scientist at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University$85,000BlacksburgDecided Aug 19, 2025I-200-25224-236099
- Scientist at Granules Pharmaceuticals Inc.$119,184ChantillyWage Level IIDecided Jul 9, 2025I-200-25182-144281
- Associate Director at Granules Pharmaceuticals Inc.$145,000ChantillyWage Level IIIDecided Jul 9, 2025I-200-25182-144282
- Process Scientist at Virginia Commonwealth University$83,205RichmondWage Level IIIDecided Jul 8, 2025I-200-25181-141516
- Scientist I at Granules Pharmaceuticals Inc.$116,272ChantillyWage Level IIDecided Jun 27, 2025I-200-25171-115085
- QC Chemist at The Veritas Healthcare Solutions LLC$116,272CHANTILLYWage Level IIDecided Jun 25, 2025I-200-25168-103298
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 Virginia
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 Virginia
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 12 certified offers. The most common variant is Research Associate at a median of $64,000.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research Associate | The University of Virginia | 5 | $64,000 |
| Research Scientist | PPD Development, L.P. | 4 | $86,315 |
| Scientist | Granules Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 3 | $119,184 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Chemists in Virginia, by industry
Median offered wage across 29 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Education leads with a median of $70,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education | Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University | 15 | $70,000 |
| Manufacturing | Granules Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 7 | $120,000 |
| Professional services | PPD Development, L.P. | 6 | $101,951 |
| Technology and software | Genex Systems LLC | 1 | $100,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Virginia 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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Explore coursesTop metros in Virginia
Metro-level salary data for chemists in major Virginia metropolitan areas.
- Richmond$82,670
- Virginia Beach$77,830
Compare Chemists pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Chemists in Virginia?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Chemists in Virginia is $99,810.
- How does Virginia compare to the national median for Chemists?
- The Virginia median is +13.2% versus the BLS national figure of $88,164.
- What is the salary range for Chemists in Virginia?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $57,780 and the 90th-percentile at $159,330, 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.