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Chemists Salary in VA

In the 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS dataset, Chemists in VA have a median annual salary of $96,650, with 1,640 recorded jobs in this area. Recorded earnings range from $52,870 at the 10th percentile to $166,230 at the 90th percentile.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · Data year: 2025 · Last updated: 2026-09-22

Salary overview

Median annual salary

$96,650

Data year: 2025

Hourly median

$46.47

Employment

1,640

Source

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS

Salary distribution

$52,870
10th
$65,980
25th
$96,650
Median
$136,660
75th
$166,230
90th

Local compared with national

VA

$96,650

Median annual · 2025

United States

$91,240

Median annual · 2025

The VA median is 5.9% above the national median in the available dataset (a difference of $5,410).

Top skills

  1. 1.ScienceImportance 4.1
  2. 2.Reading ComprehensionImportance 4.0
  3. 3.Critical ThinkingImportance 4.0
  4. 4.SpeakingImportance 3.9
  5. 5.Active ListeningImportance 3.8
  6. 6.WritingImportance 3.8
  7. 7.MathematicsImportance 3.8
  8. 8.Active LearningImportance 3.6
  9. 9.Complex Problem SolvingImportance 3.6
  10. 10.MonitoringImportance 3.5
  11. 11.Quality Control AnalysisImportance 3.3
  12. 12.Judgment and Decision MakingImportance 3.3

Career information

Education and experience

Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
Job zone
4

Technology used

  • Accelrys Cerius2
  • Accelrys DeCipher
  • Advanced Chemistry Development ACD/1D nuclear magnetic resonance NMR processor
  • Agilent ChemStation
  • Apple iWork
  • Apple iWork Keynote
  • Apple iWork Numbers
  • Apple iWork Pages
  • Bruker BioSpin TopSpin
  • C
  • C++
  • CambridgeSoft ChemOffice Ultra
  • Chem2Pac
  • Chemical kinetics software
  • ChemInnovation Software Chem 4-D

Common tasks

  • Develop, improve, or customize products, equipment, formulas, processes, or analytical methods.
  • Analyze organic or inorganic compounds to determine chemical or physical properties, composition, structure, relationships, or reactions, using chromatography, spectroscopy, or spectrophotometry techniques.
  • Induce changes in composition of substances by introducing heat, light, energy, or chemical catalysts for quantitative or qualitative analysis.
  • Conduct quality control tests.
  • Write technical papers or reports or prepare standards and specifications for processes, facilities, products, or tests.
  • Maintain laboratory instruments to ensure proper working order and troubleshoot malfunctions when needed.
  • Prepare test solutions, compounds, or reagents for laboratory personnel to conduct tests.
  • Compile and analyze test information to determine process or equipment operating efficiency or to diagnose malfunctions.
  • Confer with scientists or engineers to conduct analyses of research projects, interpret test results, or develop nonstandard tests.
  • Evaluate laboratory safety procedures to ensure compliance with standards or to make improvements as needed.

Related careers

Occupations recorded as related in the dataset. A relationship does not imply a guaranteed transition.

Chemists salary in other locations

Other occupations in VA