Salary distribution
Where Washington chemists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $67,160 and $126,570, with a median of $92,860.
Chemists in Washington: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 36 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $100,275. 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 | 9 | $77,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 4 | $95,929 |
| Level III — experienced | 8 | $111,867 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 7 | $149,469 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Chemists in Washington. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battelle Memorial Institute | Materials Scientist (Chemist) | 17 | $116,000 |
| University of Washington | Postdoctoral Scholar | 3 | $71,232 |
| Inventprise Inc | Associate Scientist III | 3 | $113,888 |
| Sila Nanotechnologies, Inc. | Quality Technician (Chemistry) | 2 | $77,000 |
| Bristol-Myers Squibb Company | Manager II Quality Engineering & Validation | 2 | $148,423 |
| GenScript USA Inc. | Research Scientist III | 2 | $104,704 |
| Inventprise Inc. | Scientist II | 1 | $94,328 |
| Omeros Corporation | Sr. Principal Research Associate, Formulations | 1 | $93,300 |
| Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. | Production Chemist | 1 | $77,970 |
| Accutar Biotechnology Inc. | Senior Chemist (Associate Director) | 1 | $200,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Scientist II at Inventprise Inc.$94,328RedmondDecided Dec 10, 2025I-200-25337-455810
- Computational Scientist (Chemist) at Battelle Memorial Institute$114,443RichlandDecided Nov 28, 2025I-200-25324-426242
- Postdoctoral Scholar at University of Washington$71,232SeattleDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25309-379374
- Sr. Principal Research Associate, Formulations at Omeros Corporation$93,300SeattleWage Level IIIDecided Jun 25, 2025I-200-25168-102888
- Quality Technician (Chemistry) at Sila Nanotechnologies, Inc.$77,000Moses LakeWage Level IDecided Jun 16, 2025I-200-25160-066893
- Manager II Quality Engineering & Validation at Bristol-Myers Squibb Company$148,320BothellWage Level IVDecided Jun 4, 2025I-200-25148-024567
- Post Doctorate Research Associate (Chemist) at Battelle Memorial Institute$101,990RichlandWage Level IDecided Jun 4, 2025I-200-25148-025547
- Production Chemist at Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.$77,970WoodinvilleWage Level IIDecided May 22, 2025I-200-25135-979701
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 Washington
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 Washington
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 18 certified offers. The most common variant is Scientist at a median of $104,108.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scientist | Inventprise Inc | 6 | $104,108 |
| Chemist | Battelle Memorial Institute | 5 | $157,948 |
| Materials Scientist (Chemist) | Battelle Memorial Institute | 4 | $116,832 |
| Post Doctorate Research Associate (Chemist) | Battelle Memorial Institute | 3 | $90,730 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Chemists in Washington, by industry
Median offered wage across 36 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $111,310.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Battelle Memorial Institute | 26 | $111,310 |
| Manufacturing | Sila Nanotechnologies, Inc. | 6 | $77,485 |
| Education | University of Washington | 3 | $71,232 |
| Healthcare | Shirley Diagnostics, Inc. | 1 | $72,426 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Washington 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 Washington metropolitan areas.
- Seattle$84,150
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Chemists in Washington?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Chemists in Washington is $92,860.
- How does Washington compare to the national median for Chemists?
- The Washington median is +5.3% versus the BLS national figure of $88,164.
- What is the salary range for Chemists in Washington?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $57,970 and the 90th-percentile at $151,860, 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.