What do chemists earn
Our members’ What chemist's earn report gives you the facts to support your next career decision.
Our 2026 What chemists earn report is the 46th report in a series of remuneration reports of members carried out by the Royal Society of Chemistry since 1919.
In a change from recent years, the results were generated from the Member Survey. Drawing on responses from around 2,500 RSC members, this report gives you a full picture of earnings, bonuses and pensions within the profession.
On this page
8.4%
increase in median salary to £54,198 since 2023
24.5%
higher median salary reported by Chartered Chemists than the wider membership
61%
hold a doctorate as their highest qualification
Download the report
The 2026 survey received around 2,500 responses. The data collected included:
- Salaries, bonuses and pensions
- Pay parity and equity
- Career stage and earnings progression
- Qualifications, chartership and pay
- Sector and employer comparisons
2026 survey findings
Salaries continue to increase across the chemical sciences
The median salary for employed respondents was £54,198, up from £50,000 in the previous survey. Earnings varied by career stage, responsibility level and employment sector.
Professional registration was also associated with higher reported earnings. Chartered Chemists reported a median salary of £67,468, compared with £54,198 across the wider membership.
Understanding pay across the profession
Pay is influenced by a wide range of factors. The survey data shows how earnings vary by career stage, field of work, employer size, sector and geographical location.
Alongside salary data, the survey also examines bonuses and pensions, providing a broader picture of reward and remuneration across the profession.
Pay disparities remain an important issue
Pay differences remain across a range of demographic groups, including gender, ethnicity and disability. Understanding these patterns helps to identify where barriers to progression remain.
The findings will help inform ongoing work to support a more inclusive profession and improve equality of opportunity across the chemical sciences.
Qualifications, professional registration and career progression
Qualifications, professional registration and responsibility level were all associated with differences in earnings. Chartered Chemists reported a median salary of £67,468, while respondents with greater levels of responsibility typically reported higher salaries.
These findings provide further insight into career progression and the factors associated with earnings across the chemical sciences.
Salary-survey reports through the ages
Members can delve into our digital archives to find out how employment in the chemical sciences has changed over the last 100 years. What did a chemical scientist earn in 1919? What were the most lucrative industries to work in? When was the best time to be a chemist?
Get free access to the report
You can purchase and download the report for £250 - please contact our Career Management team. Alternatively, get free access as part of a comprehensive package of benefits when you become a Royal Society of Chemistry member. Join for as little as £20.
As a Royal Society of Chemistry member, you’ll become part of a diverse global community of over 50,000 people who are working to create a better world. We’ll give you resources, support and connections to help you stay at the forefront of your profession.
When you become a member, you can help us influence challenges faced in the environment, education systems, inclusion and diversity, and other areas of chemical science.
To purchase the report, please contact our careers team.
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