SOC 19-2031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chemists — Waterbury
Waterbury-Shelton, CT · 4 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Waterbury, CT is $83,420 a year, trailing the national median of $91,240 by 8.6%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Waterbury, CT is $83,420 a year, trailing the national median of $91,240 by 8.6%. Half of workers earn between $67,740 and $108,860. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $58,950 and the ninetieth at $131,520.
The area has 50 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.62 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Norwich leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $121,770. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 109th of 387 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $58,950 | −35.4% |
| 25th | $67,740 | −25.8% |
| Median (50th) | $83,420 | −8.6% |
| 75th | $108,860 | +19.3% |
| 90th | $131,520 | +44.1% |
| Mean | $89,920 | −1.4% |
Other metro areas in Connecticut
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norwich | $121,770 | 210 | |
| 2 | Bridgeport | $99,530 | 290 | |
| 3 | New Haven | $97,610 | 200 | |
| 4 | Hartford | $90,010 | 340 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Waterbury run 3.6% above the national average, so the median of $83,420 buys what $80,521 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 11.7% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$83,420as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$80,521US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $83,420 a year, 8.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $58,950 to $131,520 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 50 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Norwich, at $121,770.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chemists in Waterbury, CT?
The median annual wage is $83,420, or $40.11 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 Waterbury, CT is 8.6% 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 Waterbury, CT earns more than $131,520 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $58,950 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 Norwich, at $121,770 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 50 jobs in this occupation in Waterbury, CT. 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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