Expert Chemist salary in Philadelphia, PA
Based on 49 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Exton, Wilmington, Malvern, Newtown, Collegeville.
Also listed as: Quality Control Chemist, Analytical Chemist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $109,894 |
| 25th | $114,733 |
| 50th (median) | $124,853 |
| 75th | $130,074 |
| 90th | $144,505 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $115,566 | $113,400 | $121,526 | 14 |
| FY2021 | $119,514 | $115,867 | $125,581 | 16 |
| FY2022 | $130,000 | $120,000 | $137,500 | 15 |
| FY2023 | $130,000 | $117,760 | $140,000 | 11 |
| FY2024 | $119,819 | $114,733 | $140,832 | 29 |
| FY2025 | $126,541 | $117,118 | $135,679 | 23 |
| FY2026 | $119,286 | $111,429 | $126,664 | 26 |
Cost of living
Philadelphia's median expert Chemist salary of $124,853 is worth about $121,700 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Philadelphia = 102.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Chemists in the Philadelphia, PA area earned a median of $95,440 in May 2025 (4,520 employed). The H-1B median here is $124,853, 31% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Adesis | $131,289 | 10 |
| Incyte | too few | 6 |
| Trustees Of The University Of Pennsylvania | too few | 3 |
| Affinity Research Chemicals | too few | 2 |
| Merck Sharp & Dohme | too few | 2 |
| Syensqo | too few | 2 |
| Veranova, L.P. | 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 | $66,300 | 63 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $84,714 | 49 |
| Senior · Level III | $105,803 | 50 |
| Expert · Level IV | $124,853 | 49 |
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 | $65,333 | $66,300 | 63 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $74,526 | $84,714 | 49 |
| Senior · Level III | $91,998 | $105,803 | 50 |
| Expert · Level IV | $109,470 | $124,853 | 49 |
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.