Salary Range

• The typical salary range for all chemists nationwide was from $39,250 to $116,130 per year, as of 2010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This salary range encompassed the pay made by 80 percent of all chemists in the U.S. However, those with a master's degree are more likely to make above the median salary, which was $68,320 per year. Those in the upper 25 percent of the pay scale made salaries in excess of $92,360.
  
  

Industries

• In reality, the salary earned by chemists depends largely upon the specific industry in which they work. The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that chemists are not typically required to have a master's degree unless they work in the scientific research field. It is likely those with a master's degree earn more than the median salary salary of $68,320, since a perusal of industry statistics reveals that chemists in the scientific research and development field brought home an average salary of $81,490. Those employed by the federal government made $104,210, while those employed in the oil and gas extraction field managed to bring home $105,960 per year. Salaries for chemists in other fields were typically lower.
  
  

Location

• Although there may not be a direct link between the education level of chemists and the salaries they earn in various locations, the BLS does provide useful data regarding chemist salaries by state. The bureau notes that chemists in the District of Columbia made the highest average salaries at $112,000 per year in 2010. This salary figure was significantly higher than the salary earned by the highest paying state, Maryland, where chemists only earned an average of $98,890, by comparison. The largest group of chemists worked in California, bringing home an average salary of $81,240.
  
  

Job Outlook

• The overall job outlook for chemists does not appear particularly bright, in light of projections made by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The bureau indicates that the number of jobs for chemists will only grow by about 2 percent from 2008 to 2018, a rate considerably lower than the average rate of growth for all other professions. The growth that does occur will likely be spurred by the growth of the biotechnology field. This bodes well for chemists with master's degrees, as they will likely be in higher demand because of the advanced nature of the scientific research conducted in this field.