Chemist salary in Detroit, MI
Based on 39 certified H-1B filings in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Warren, Riverview, Livonia, Southfield, Canton.
Also listed as: Quality Control Chemist, Analytical Chemist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $52,000 |
| 25th | $59,550 |
| 50th (median) | $77,293 |
| 75th | $100,500 |
| 90th | $134,167 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $70,000 | $63,523 | $78,000 | 17 |
| FY2021 | $66,560 | $59,779 | $76,252 | 19 |
| FY2022 | $75,000 | $61,693 | $100,000 | 24 |
| FY2023 | $83,892 | $73,612 | $91,000 | 16 |
| FY2024 | – | – | – | 7 |
| FY2025 | $77,293 | $59,030 | $102,000 | 27 |
| FY2026 | $90,747 | $63,750 | $95,404 | 12 |
Cost of living
Detroit's median Chemist salary of $77,293 is worth about $77,100 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Detroit = 100.3).
Compared with all workers here
All Chemists in the Detroit, MI area earned a median of $85,770 in May 2025 (1,250 employed). The H-1B median here is $77,293, 10% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Wayne State University | too few | 8 |
| Basf | too few | 4 |
| PPL Pharma Solutions Riverview | too few | 4 |
| General Motors Company | too few | 3 |
| RTI Laboratories | too few | 3 |
| Bonita Pharmaceuticals | too few | 2 |
| Henkel | too few | 2 |
| Kingfa Science & Technology (Usa) | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $59,030 | 16 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $90,000 | 11 |
| Senior · Level III | – | 0 |
| Expert · Level IV | too few | 5 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $51,355 | $59,030 | 16 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $77,293 | $90,000 | 11 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.