Chemists in Wisconsin. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where Wisconsin chemists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $64,760 and $96,720, with a median of $78,730.
Chemists in Wisconsin: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 59 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $76,170. 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 | 16 | $54,080 |
| Level II — qualified | 16 | $65,728 |
| Level III — experienced | 9 | $77,022 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 15 | $93,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Chemists in Wisconsin. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| PPD Development, L.P. | Scientist III | 18 | $76,170 |
| University of Wisconsin System | Research Associate-Postdegree Trainee | 8 | $59,536 |
| Catalent Pharma Solutions | Technician, Biomanufacturing, Downstream/mRNA | 6 | $54,080 |
| Sterling Wisconsin, LLC | Chemical R&D Scientist I | 6 | $77,574 |
| Rust-Oleum Corporation | R&D Scientist | 3 | $83,034 |
| Sigma-Aldrich Co LLC | Engineer II | 3 | $93,000 |
| Ereztech Labs, LLC | Analytical/Metrology Scientist | 2 | $91,840 |
| S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Associate Manager, Chemistry | 2 | $103,040 |
| AbbVie Inc. | Senior Scientist I | 1 | $125,000 |
| AGNITIO, INC. | Chemist | 1 | $60,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Scientist II at Sigma-Aldrich Co LLC$93,000MilwaukeeWage Level IVDecided Mar 31, 2026I-200-26083-725071
- Research Associate-Postdegree Trainee at University of Wisconsin System$60,416MADISONWage Level IDecided Mar 25, 2026I-200-26077-711593
- R&D Chemist at Rust-Oleum Corporation$80,000Pleasant PrairieWage Level IIIDecided Mar 11, 2026I-200-26063-678859
- Principal Scientist at PPD Development, L.P.$87,110MiddletonWage Level IVDecided Feb 23, 2026I-200-26044-641056
- Scientist III at PPD Development, L.P.$76,170MiddletonWage Level IIIDecided Dec 23, 2025I-200-25350-487423
- Sr. Associate, Biomanufacturing, Downstream/mRNA at Catalent Pharma Solutions$74,000MadisonWage Level IIDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25307-361966
- Sr. Analytical R&D Scientist at Sterling Wisconsin, LLC$92,789GermantownWage Level IVDecided Sep 19, 2025I-200-25255-305402
- Associate Manager, Chemistry at S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.$104,000Mount PleasantWage Level IVDecided Aug 26, 2025I-200-25231-253154
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.
Where do you stand?
Get an instant percentile reading. Anonymous, no signup.
Aggregate unlocks once 5 readers have shared a salary for this role and state.
Chemists pay by experience level in Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 32 certified offers. The most common variant is Scientist at a median of $77,022.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scientist | PPD Development, L.P. | 18 | $77,022 |
| Research Associate-Postdegree Trainee | University of Wisconsin System | 4 | $58,656 |
| Technician, Biomanufacturing, Downstream/mRNA | Catalent Pharma Solutions | 4 | $54,080 |
| Associate Manager, Chemistry | S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | 3 | $102,080 |
| Associate Research Scientist | PPD Development, L.P. | 3 | $76,170 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Chemists in Wisconsin, by industry
Median offered wage across 59 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $76,170.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | PPD Development, L.P. | 31 | $76,170 |
| Manufacturing | Sterling Wisconsin, LLC | 19 | $89,419 |
| Education | University of Wisconsin System | 9 | $60,416 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Wisconsin 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.
Sponsored
Build the skills employers list for Chemists
Online courses from licensed providers. We may earn a commission when you enroll. The commission does not influence our rankings or wage data.
Explore coursesTop metros in Wisconsin
Metro-level salary data for chemists in major Wisconsin metropolitan areas.
- Milwaukee$78,860
Compare Chemists pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Wisconsin with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Chemists in Wisconsin?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Chemists in Wisconsin is $78,730.
- How does Wisconsin compare to the national median for Chemists?
- The Wisconsin median is -15.4% versus the BLS national figure of $93,017.
- What is the salary range for Chemists in Wisconsin?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $52,020 and the 90th-percentile at $109,450, 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.