One of the biggest predictors of salary is geography. Cities have a higher cost of living than rural areas but a higher cost of living requires an equally high salary. So who pays the most for chemists nationwide?
In the last 2 years, four metropolitan areas have topped the list for highest salaries for PhD chemists working full time: San Francisco, Newark, Houston-Beaumont, and Boston.
Each of these metropolitan areas has a large amount of chemical employers who attract top talent nationwide. Among those employers include Genentech, Merck, Chevron Phillips, and Pfizer to name a few. Larger companies can afford top talent – and they’re willing to pay more for it.
How does your salary stack up? There are many variables to consider, and ACS can help you navigate the data. Members can start with the ACS Salary Calculator™ where you can enter your skills, degree, and geography to get a very specific portrait for your employment situation.
If you want a more general outlook that is free to the public, try the ACS Employment Dashboard™, where you can view employment, demographic, and salary trends from 2000 to 2014.
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