SOC 19-2031 · Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · May 2025
How much do Chemists make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
In the May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates, released May 15, 2026, the median annual wage for Chemists in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC is $81,990. The 10th percentile is $52,580 and the 90th percentile is $134,290. Employment is 200.
Median annual wage
$81,990
- 10th percentile
- $52,580
- 25th percentile
- $64,190
- Median
- $81,990
- 75th percentile
- $110,590
- 90th percentile
- $134,290
- Mean
- $88,810
Annual wage from the May 2025 OEWS estimates.

Percentile spread
For Chemists, the published 10th percentile is $52,580 and the 90th percentile is $134,290. The difference is $81,710, which is 99.7% of the median. Ten percent of measured wages fall below the 10th percentile and ten percent fall above the 90th. How to read a percentile.
The middle half of the distribution, from the 25th percentile at $64,190 to the 75th at $110,590, covers $46,400.
The mean annual wage is $88,810, which sits above the median of $81,990. Median and mean measure different points in the same distribution.
National and state comparison
The Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC median is 10.1% lower than the national median of $91,240 for Chemists. In 2024 national prices the local median is $83,714, which is 8.2% lower than that same national median. The national figure is already in national prices because the United States parity is 100.
It is 15.2% lower than the Virginia median of $96,650.
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC covers more than one state. The state comparison uses Virginia, the primary state on the BLS area record.
Price-adjusted pay
The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC is 97.941, with the United States at 100. The Bureau of Economic Analysis released those parities on February 19, 2026. Dividing the May 2025 median of $81,990 by that parity and multiplying by 100 puts Chemists at $83,714 in national prices. The wage year and the price year are different. Compare this wage after prices.
Nearby metros
13 other metropolitan areas within 200 miles publish a annual median for Chemists. Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC ranks 11th of 14 on that median, counting itself. Distance is the great-circle mileage between Census Bureau internal points (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files, Core Based Statistical Areas, internal points (INTPTLAT, INTPTLONG).).
- Richmond, VA is 70 miles away, with a median of $87,580 and employment of 320. That median is 6.8% higher than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $89,497, against $83,714 here.
- Lexington Park, MD is 102 miles away, with a median of $131,810 and employment of 60. That median is 60.8% higher than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $130,816, against $83,714 here.
- Raleigh-Cary, NC is 137 miles away, with a median of $84,150 and employment of 740. That median is 2.6% higher than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $85,730, against $83,714 here.
Employment share
Chemists accounts for 0.03% of wage-and-salary employment in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC (200 of 763,060). Nationally the occupation is 0.05% of employment (82,770 of 155,495,730). The local share is 0.49 times the national share. That ratio is the location quotient computed from these May 2025 employment counts. It is not copied from the location-quotient column in the BLS bulk file.
Highest-paying jobs in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC · Chemists by metro · How to read these percentiles · Median and mean · When a wage is not published · How the figures are made · Compare this wage after prices
Questions this page answers
How much do Chemists make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
In the May 2025 OEWS estimates, released May 15, 2026, the median annual wage for Chemists in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC is $81,990. The 10th percentile is $52,580 and the 90th percentile is $134,290. Employment is 200.
How does that compare with the national median for Chemists?
The local median is 10.1% lower than the national median of $91,240.
What is Chemists pay in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC after local prices?
The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC is 97.941, with the United States at 100. In those national prices, the May 2025 median of $81,990 is $83,714. The wage is May 2025 and the parity is 2024.
How does Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC compare with nearby metros for Chemists?
Richmond, VA is the closest metropolitan area within 200 miles with a published annual median, 70 miles away, at $87,580. Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC ranks 11th of 14 metros within 200 miles on that median. Distances use Census Bureau internal points.