The American Chemical Society reports that the median salary of all of its members with a bachelor's degree was $32,800 a year in 2002; for those with a master's degree, it was $50,000; and for those with a Ph.D., it was $68,000. Median salaries were highest for those working in private industry; those in academia earned the least. According to an ACS survey of recent graduates, inexperienced chemistry graduates with a bachelor's degree earned a median starting salary of $31,000 in 2002; those with a master's degree earned a median salary of $45,000; and those with a Ph.D. made median earnings of $67,500. Among bachelor's degree graduates, those who had completed internships or had other work experience while in school commanded the highest starting salaries.

In 2003, chemists in nonsupervisory, supervisory, and managerial positions in the Federal Government averaged $76,857 a year.