SOC 19-2031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chemists — Tennessee
Tennessee · 4 metro areas compared
The median wage for Chemists in Tennessee is $87,930 per year, close to the national median of $91,240 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Chemists in Tennessee is $87,930 per year, close to the national median of $91,240 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $48,530 at the tenth percentile to more than $132,630 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $58,420 to $104,030.
Employment stands at 960, or 0.3 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Tennessee ranks 24th by median wage. Knoxville leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $99,790. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 117th of 730 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48,530 | −46.8% |
| 25th | $58,420 | −36.0% |
| Median (50th) | $87,930 | −3.6% |
| 75th | $104,030 | +14.0% |
| 90th | $132,630 | +45.4% |
| Mean | $88,400 | −3.1% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Tennessee
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Knoxville | $99,790 | 100 | |
| 2 | Chattanooga | $92,490 | 50 | |
| 3 | Memphis | $76,980 | 120 | |
| 4 | Nashville | $48,530 | 320 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Tennessee run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $87,930 goes as far as $95,680 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 4.9% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$87,930as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$95,680US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $87,930 a year, 3.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $48,530 to $132,630 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 960 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 24th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Knoxville, at $99,790.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chemists in Tennessee?
The median annual wage is $87,930, or $42.27 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $91,240, so pay in Tennessee is 3.6% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Tennessee earns more than $132,630 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $48,530 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Knoxville, at $99,790 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 960 jobs in this occupation in Tennessee. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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