For practitioners of chemistry, there is very little to cheer about in the results from the latest American Chemical Society annual survey of the employment situation and salaries of its members.
The survey indicates that the percentage of chemists who are jobless but seeking employment, 3.1%, is the highest in 24 years. This percentage is based on the population of chemists surveyed that excludes those unemployed but not seeking work. It is exceeded only by the 3.2% figure in 1972, a very poor year for the chemistry profession. In addition, the percentage of those responding to the survey this year who are without full-time jobs, slightly more than 12%, is more than twice what it was just six years ago.
The median salary of all chemists with full-time jobs this year, $60,000, is less than 1% higher than it was for those responding to last year's survey. And for chemists with bachelor's degrees, this year's median salary of $44,100 is down from $45,400 last year.
On a somewhat less negative note, the median annual salary increase for individual chemists employed full time by the same employer for the past year is about 4%. The increase ranges from 3.3% to 5.0% depending on highest degree earned and type of employer. But as these gains include compensation earned for greater experience and, in many cases, also for promotion and higher responsibilities, the overall gain of about 4% indicates only a modest margin over the 2.8% rate of inflation of the Consumer Price Index.
| Median salary increase(a) | B.S. | M.S. | Ph.D. |
| By Employment | |||
| Industry | 5.0% | 4.4% | 4.7% |
| Government | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.3 |
| Academia | 4.1 | 3.7 | 4.1 |
| By Age | |||
| 20-29 | 6.6% | 8.0% | 7.0% |
| 30-39 | 5.3 | 4.9 | 5.2 |
| 40-49 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.4 |
| 50-59 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 3.8 |
| 60-69 | 4.2 | 3.3 | 3.4 |
The survey
This year's survey involved mailing questionnaires to 20,000 ACS members who
reside in the U.S., are less than 70 years old, and are not classified by the
society as emeritus, retired, or student members. Data are as of March 1, as
they are every year.
Total response was 10,000. Of these, about 9,200 have their highest degree in chemistry. For most of the others, it is in chemical engineering. All data reported in this article are for the chemistry cohort only.
Of chemists responding to this year's survey, 61.5% are in industry; 25.6% work in academia, including 1.5% in high schools; 7.3% are government employees; and 5.6% are in other nonacademic areas. By gender, 22.7% are women. By highest degree, 56.6% hold Ph.D. degrees, 26.0% bachelor's degrees, 17.1% master's degrees, and 0.4% other degrees. By race and ethnicity, 85.4% are white, 9.3% Asian, 2.4% Hispanic, 1.5% black, 0.3% American Indian, and 1.1% other.
ACS's annual employment and salary surveys are conducted by the society's Department of Career Services. A full report, "Salaries 1996," will be available later this year at $150 per copy from the American Chemical Society, Member Service Center, P.O. Box 9389, Minneapolis, Minn. 55440-9389; phone (800) 451-9190. Comments and questions about the data should be directed to Mary W. Jordan, senior research analyst in ACS's Department of Career Services, at (202) 872-4433.
Employment
The data from the 1996 survey show a continuance of the significant changes in
the employment picture for chemists that has been under way since 1990.
During the most recent period of high employment for chemists - 1987 through 1990 - an average of about 5.5% of those responding to ACS's surveys reported they were not employed full time. This total consisted of about 1.5% working part time, 2% on postdocs or fellowships, 1% unemployed but seeking employment, and another 1% unemployed but not seeking employment.
For 1996, this total has reached 12.1%, up from 11.2% last year. This year's total comprises 2.9% with part-time jobs, 2.8% on postdocs, 3.0% unemployed but seeking employment, and 3.4% unemployed but not seeking employment.
Such a large change over just six years for a population as large as the membership of ACS raises the question of whether this change is real or an artifact in the data collection or analysis.
For instance, there is a difference in the mechanics of the 1995 and 1996 surveys. In 1996, the survey questionnaire was sent to a sample of about 20% of the eligible ACS members. For 1995, it was sent to all eligible members. Such a complete survey is done every five years. Also, according to Jordan, who coordinated this year's survey, there were some database problems in drawing this year's member sample, and it may not be fully representative of the target ACS population. She explains that the data are being verified, that there may be some revisions, and that the data reported in this article should be considered as preliminary.
However, despite these difficulties, indications are that the year-to-year shifts in the employment picture for chemists apparent from this year's survey are real - certainly in the overall trends they show.
First, although this year's unemployment numbers are pushing into uncomfortable new high ground, they do not represent a discontinuity. Rather, they are extensions of trends that have been under way for some years.
Second, to the extent that 1996 and 1972 data can be compared, they are not greatly different. In both years, just over 3% of respondents were unemployed but looking for work, and in 1972 those without full-time jobs totaled almost 10%, approaching the 12% of this year.
Third, comparisons with data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for 1996 and 1972 show a consistent pattern. This year, the 3.1% of chemists in the labor force who are unemployed and seeking work compares with BLS measures of an overall national unemployment rate of 5.6% and a 2.3% rate for those in the managerial and professional category. For 1972 these rates were 3.2%, 5.7%, and 2.5%, respectively.
BLS data are based on those actually in the workforce - either employed or unemployed but actively seeking employment. Those unemployed but not seeking employment are not included.
In this regard, the recent sharp increase in those responding to the ACS surveys stating they are unemployed but not seeking employment - from 1.1% as recently as 1990 to the 3.4% level of this year - raises a number of questions. To what extent does it show inclusion of members who are really retired and so should not be counted? Or does it reflect an increase in the number of chemists who would still like to be working but have lost their job, have been unable to find another, and have given up looking - at least for a while? Even when this is the case, should they be included?
| Age | Full Time | Part Time | Postdoc | Seeking Employment | Not seeking Employment |
| 25-29 | 79.9% | 3.6% | 11.5% | 3.2% | 1.8% |
| 30-34 | 86.5 | 2.3 | 8.0 | 1.8 | 1.5 |
| 35-39 | 90.9 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 1.5 |
| 40-44 | 92.6 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 3.5 | 0.7 |
| 45-49 | 93.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 4.2 | 0.8 |
| 50-54 | 93.1 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 3.4 | 1.5 |
| 55-59 | 89.7 | 4.3 | 0.1 | 2.9 | 3.1 |
| 60-64 | 76.4 | 5.5 | 0 | 3.1 | 15.0 |
| 65-69 | 55.5 | 9.4 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 33.9 |
This year's data indicate that the surge in those unemployed but not seeking employment involves, for whatever reason, a disproportionate number of older chemists. An analysis by five-year age groups reveals that until age 54, the percentage in this category ranges between 0.7% and 1.8%. However, for those 60 to 64 it is 15%, and for those 65 to 69, 34%.
A further strong indication of the weakness in the current job market for chemists is the number of respondents who were unemployed at some time during the previous year. In this year's survey, 7.8% of respondents reported they were jobless at some time during 1995. This is up from 6.8% who were jobless during 1994 and up from 4.2% in 1993. The percentage of jobless sometime during 1989 was 3.1%.
Women chemists continue to have a tougher time in the job market than their male colleagues. Of women responding to this year's survey, 17.7%, or more than one in six, report they do not have full-time jobs. This compares with 10.5% for men. Women are more than three times as likely as men, 6.2% compared with 1.9%, to have part-time jobs. Total unemployment - including both those seeking and not seeking employment - is at 7.6% for women and 6.1% for men.
An analysis of this year's ACS data suggests that the employment situation for chemists might be slightly stronger in the East than the West. Actual unemployment is lowest in the Middle Atlantic region and highest in the West Coast states. In the East, slightly more chemists have full-time jobs and relatively fewer are either postdocs or working part time.
| Full time | Part time | Postdoc | Seeking employment | |
| Industry | 95.2% | 1.0% | 0.4% | 3.3% |
| Academia | 83.6 | 6.1 | 8.4 | 1.9 |
| Government | 91.8 | 1.7 | 4.4 | 2.0 |
| Most Recent Work | ||||
| Production | 96.9 | 1.0 | 0 | 2.1 |
| R&D management | 97.0 | 0.6 | 0 | 2.4 |
| General management | 95.9 | 1.1 | 0 | 3.0 |
| Marketing | 94.1 | 2.2 | 0 | 3.6 |
| Basic research | 79.4 | 2.8 | 14.3 | 3.5 |
| Applied research | 94.7 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 3.0 |
| Region | ||||
| Pacific | 85.9 | 3.8 | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Mountain | 88.8 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 3.0 |
| West North Central | 91.9 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 2.8 |
| West South Central | 90.9 | 2.8 | 3.3 | 3.0 |
| East North Central | 92.1 | 3.3 | 2.1 | 2.6 |
| East South Central | 92.4 | 1.8 | 2.9 | 2.9 |
| Middle Atlantic | 92.7 | 2.9 | 2.1 | 2.4 |
| South Atlantic | 90.6 | 3.0 | 3.8 | 2.6 |
| New England | 90.0 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 4.0 |
The key questions raised by the masses of employment data gathered in ACS's surveys in recent years are: Do the data represent a fundamental and long-lasting change for the chemical profession? Or will the employment status for chemists right itself within a few years, as it did after 1972, and return to the healthy situation of 1987 to 1990?
Only time will tell. But the downward trends in both private and public funding for research and development do not augur well for any sharp upturn in the fortunes of science in general in the near future. Also, the cost-saving and streamlining efforts that transcend science and seemingly pervade industry, government, and academia these days appear to be changing the outlook for all job markets, as well as the very nature of employment itself.
The ACS data can be interpreted as supporting the notion that in the future chemists - like everyone else - are going to have to show more flexibility to survive and prosper. The indications are that chemists are entering an era of more frequent job changes, fewer one-employer careers, more less than full-time working arrangements, more exploitation of chemistry training in nontraditional areas, and earlier career termination - either voluntary or involuntary.
Salaries
All salary data from ACS surveys represent the base salary from the principal
full-time job of chemists. Bonuses and any additional professional income
are excluded. In almost all cases, medians are used to avoid the distortion
that can be introduced into averages (or means) by a few very high salaries.
The median salary is that equaled or exceeded by one-half of a sample.
| Employment status(a) | Total | Men | Women | B.S. | M.S. | Ph.D. | Minority(b) | Nonminority | Chemical engineers |
| Employed full time | 87.9% | 89.5% | 82.3% | 88.6% | 87.9% | 87.5% | 84.5% | 88.4% | 87.1% |
| Employed part time | 2.9 | 1.9 | 6.2 | 3.1 | 3.9 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 3.0 | 4.0 |
| Postdoctoral or fellowship | 2.8 | 2.5 | 3.9 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 4.3 | 6.1 | 2.1 | 1.1 |
| Unemployed | |||||||||
| Seeking employment | 3.0 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.0 | 2.8 | 3.8 | 2.9 | 3.1 |
| Not seeking employment | 3.4 | 3.2 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.4 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 3.7 | 4.7 |
The salary data from this year's survey are sobering. The median salary for those with full-time jobs is up only marginally from the 1995 level - $60,000 compared with $59,700. For Ph.D.s responding, the gain is significant - to $68,000 from $66,000. But for M.S.-degree holders, the year-to-year gain is only $100, to $53,600. And the $1,300 decline for B.S.-degree holders drops their median salary to 3% below the 1995 level and $200 below even the 1994 level of $44,300.
| Employment status(a) | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 |
| Employed full time | 94.8% | 95.4% | 95.4% | 95.3% | 95.2% | 94.0% | 93.4% | 92.8% | 91.9% | 91.1% | 91.0% |
| Employed part time | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 2.7 | 3.0 |
| Postdoctoral or fellowship | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.6 | 2.4 | 3.0 | 2.9 | 3.6 | 2.9 |
| Unemployed | 1.7 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 2.7 | 2.6 | 3.1 |
| $ Thousands | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1995-96 | 1991-96 | 1986-96 |
| CHEMISTS' MEDIAN SALARY(a) | ||||||||||||||
| B.S. | $33.0 | $33.5 | $35.4 | $37.0 | $39.0 | $40.3 | $42.0 | $43.5 | $44.3 | $45.4 | $44.1 | -2.9% | 1.8% | 2.9% |
| M.S. | 37.9 | 39.0 | 41.0 | 43.0 | 45.0 | 47.4 | 50.0 | 51.5 | 52.0 | 53.5 | 53.6 | 0.2 | 2.5 | 3.5 |
| Ph.D. | 47.8 | 47.7 | 50.0 | 52.5 | 55.0 | 58.0 | 60.0 | 62.8 | 65.0 | 66.0 | 68.0 | 3.0 | 3.2 | 3.6 |
| All chemists | 42.5 | 42.5 | 45.0 | 47.3 | 49.8 | 52.0 | 54.6 | 56.0 | 57.9 | 59.7 | 60.0 | 0.5 | 2.9 | 3.5 |
| Change in Consumer Price Index | 2.8 | 3.2 | 3.6 | |||||||||||
Such a year-to-year decline for an entire degree level is very rare. The only previous example in the past 30 years is a nominal $100 decline in the median salary for Ph.D.s in 1987.
The decreases in 1996 were particularly large for B.S. chemists in industry, to $45,000 from $47,000. For all women chemists, the decline was from $47,000 to $45,700.
Changes in the salary medians from successive annual ACS surveys can reflect more than changes in the actual salaries earned. Another factor can be shifts in the profile of those responding. Further analysis of data from those responding to the 1995 and 1996 surveys indicates somewhat different profiles that could at least partially explain the apparently weak 1996 salary performance. These shifts are in line with the drift in recent years toward a younger, hence less well paid, workforce.
For instance, the median age of those responding to the 1996 survey is slightly lower than it was for 1995. In 1996, 24.6% of respondents were under 35 years old and 30.1% were 50 or older. The corresponding figures for 1995 were 22.4% and 31.5%. Also, a smaller percentage of the respondents in 1996 held Ph.D.s than did respondents in 1995. In 1996, 26.5% were B.S.-degree holders and 56.4% had Ph.D.s. This compares with the 1995 breakdown of 24.7% B.S. chemists and 58.3% Ph.D. chemists.
The best measure of the salary performance for chemists as individuals, rather than as a group, over the past year comes from answers to the survey question that asks the salaries as of March 1, 1995, and March 1, 1996, of those employed full time by the same employer. The median gains are about 4.7% for those in industry, 3.6% for those in government, and 4.0% for those in academia. In all three cases, the parallel gains in 1995 had been about 1% higher.
A review of this year's survey data indicates that age, degree level, and type of job remain dominant in the complex web of factors that influences chemists' salaries. Gender is still a significant factor. But it is becoming less so for younger chemists. Size of employer and geographic location also have an influence.
For instance, comparing median salaries indicates that Ph.D. chemists as a group earn about 45% more than their B.S. colleagues. By age, chemists 30 to 34 years beyond their B.S. degree earn about 60% more than colleagues 25 years younger. And by employer, industry still pays the best, with government second, and academia trailing.
| Median salary,$ thousands(a) | 2 to 4 | 5 to 9 | 10 to 14 | 15 to 19 | 20 to 24 | 25 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35 to 39 | 40 or more | Overall median |
| ALL CHEMISTS | $30.6 | $40.3 | $53.0 | $61.6 | $65.2 | $70.8 | $74.4 | $70.9 | $75.0 | $60.0 |
| By gender | ||||||||||
| Male | 30.8 | 42.0 | 54.5 | 62.4 | 68.0 | 73.1 | 76.5 | 72.5 | 78.0 | 63.0 |
| Female | 30.1 | 39.2 | 48.6 | 54.3 | 58.8 | 57.5 | 61.2 | 56.9 | 51.0 | 45.7 |
| By degree | ||||||||||
| B.S. | 30.1 | 38.7 | 45.2 | 55.0 | 53.0 | 61.4 | 63.3 | 64.2 | 65.5 | 44.1 |
| M.S. | 32.5 | 40.0 | 48.6 | 55.0 | 59.9 | 62.5 | 63.0 | 67.0 | 63.8 | 53.6 |
| Ph.D. | - | 50.0 | 59.2 | 66.6 | 74.1 | 77.7 | 79.4 | 73.0 | 79.9 | 68.0 |
| By employer | ||||||||||
| Industry | 31.5 | 42.9 | 57.3 | 65.7 | 70.5 | 78.6 | 82.1 | 84.7 | 78.6 | 63.0 |
| Government | 31.0 | 37.0 | 50.2 | 56.0 | 59.8 | 63.4 | 70.2 | 74.6 | 79.7 | 58.8 |
| Academia | 15.0 | 32.1 | 37.5 | 44.0 | 50.0 | 56.0 | 59.9 | 65.4 | 70.7 | 50.0 |
| Median salary$ thousands(a) | 2 to 4 | 5 to 9 | 10 to 14 | 15 to 19 | 20 to 24 | 25 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35 to 39 | 40 or more | Overall median |
| INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTS | ||||||||||
| B.S. | ||||||||||
| 90% | $40.4 | $51.0 | $61.7 | $78.0 | $81.5 | $98.0 | $97.5 | - | - | $75.1 |
| 75% | 36.0 | 45.0 | 55.0 | 65.2 | 67.0 | 79.0 | 79.8 | - | - | 60.0 |
| 50% | 31.3 | 39.4 | 47.0 | 56.4 | 54.4 | 64.0 | 64.7 | $65.8 | $66.0 | 45.0 |
| 25% | 26.2 | 34.0 | 41.0 | 47.0 | 44.5 | 53.0 | 55.0 | - | - | 35.0 |
| 10% | 23.0 | 30.0 | 33.8 | 41.1 | 36.0 | 42.0 | 40.0 | - | - | 28.1 |
| M.S. | ||||||||||
| 90% | - | 52.0 | 66.0 | 79.5 | 86.6 | 99.0 | 105.0 | - | - | 86.0 |
| 75% | - | 49.0 | 56.8 | 66.5 | 76.0 | 80.0 | 84.3 | - | - | 70.5 |
| 50% | - | 42.0 | 50.0 | 58.6 | 63.0 | 67.4 | 71.6 | 71.0 | 77.4 | 57.0 |
| 25% | - | 37.9 | 44.8 | 48.5 | 53.5 | 58.5 | 60.0 | - | - | 46.7 |
| 10% | - | 31.0 | 37.1 | 42.0 | 48.0 | 47.3 | 49.2 | - | - | 38.6 |
| Ph.D. | ||||||||||
| 90% | - | 66.3 | 76.6 | 92.1 | 105.0 | 126.0 | 137.0 | 138.2 | 135.5 | 110.0 |
| 75% | - | 61.8 | 69.6 | 82.7 | 92.0 | 102.0 | 110.0 | 106.0 | 103.4 | 91.0 |
| 50% | - | 58.1 | 63.0 | 73.0 | 80.1 | 89.0 | 91.7 | 91.2 | 87.9 | 75.0 |
| 25% | - | 53.0 | 58.0 | 65.0 | 70.4 | 74.0 | 77.6 | 70.2 | 70.9 | 63.0 |
| 10% | - | 48.8 | 52.0 | 56.9 | 62.8 | 62.7 | 63.0 | 56.2 | 52.9 | 55.0 |
| Median salary,$ thousands(a) | 2 to 4 | 5 to 9 | 10 to 14 | 15 to 19 | 20 to 24 | 25 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35 to 39 | 40 or more | Overall median | |
| CHEMISTS EMPLOYED FULL TIME IN INDUSTRY | |||||||||||
| Total | |||||||||||
| B.S. | $31.3 | $39.4 | $47.0 | $56.4 | $54.4 | $64.0 | $64.7 | $65.8 | $66.0 | $45.0 | |
| M.S. | 34.8 | 42.0 | 50.0 | 58.6 | 63.0 | 67.4 | 71.6 | 71.0 | 77.4 | 57.0 | |
| Ph.D. | - | 58.1 | 63.0 | 73.0 | 80.1 | 89.0 | 91.7 | 91.2 | 87.9 | 75.0 | |
| Gender | |||||||||||
| Men | B.S. | 31.5 | 39.0 | 48.3 | 56.6 | 54.0 | 66.2 | 65.0 | 68.0 | 67.4 | 48.6 |
| M.S. | 35.8 | 43.7 | 50.0 | 60.0 | 64.0 | 67.1 | 71.1 | 81.7 | 80.0 | 60.0 | |
| Ph.D. | - | 58.7 | 63.4 | 73.0 | 80.9 | 89.3 | 92.5 | 91.3 | 88.0 | 76.1 | |
| Women | B.S. | 31.3 | 39.9 | 44.6 | 55.0 | 55.0 | 56.0 | - | - | - | 39.5 |
| M.S. | - | 41.5 | 50.0 | 46.5 | 60.0 | 67.4 | 70.9 | - | - | 49.4 | |
| Ph.D. | - | 56.9 | 62.6 | 72.4 | 78.0 | 77.1 | 72.1 | - | - | 66.0 | |
| Work function | |||||||||||
| General management | B.S. | - | - | 57.1 | 62.4 | - | - | - | - | - | 60.0 |
| M.S. | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 72.0 | |
| Ph.D. | - | - | - | - | - | 105.6 | 99.0 | 104.0 | - | 95.5 | |
| R&D management | B.S. | - | - | - | 65.7 | 65.0 | - | - | - | - | 65.3 |
| M.S. | - | - | - | - | 77.0 | 80.0 | - | - | - | 77.0 | |
| Ph.D. | - | - | 70.8 | 85.0 | 92.0 | 101.1 | 105.0 | 100.0 | 100.5 | 92.0 | |
| Basic research | B.S. | 31.2 | 40.4 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 36.6 |
| M.S. | - | - | 51.1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 53.0 | |
| Ph.D. | - | 56.0 | 65.1 | 76.7 | 82.2 | 83.9 | 99.0 | - | - | 72.7 | |
| Applied research | B.S. | 33.8 | 41.2 | 47.9 | 52.9 | 51.0 | 60.5 | 65.0 | 63.7 | 55.0 | 45.0 |
| M.S. | - | 41.4 | 49.0 | 56.9 | 65.0 | 65.9 | 72.0 | - | - | 55.0 | |
| Ph.D. | - | 58.8 | 62.5 | 70.0 | 75.4 | 79.0 | 84.6 | 85.2 | 87.2 | 70.0 | |
| Production | B.S. | 30.0 | 38.9 | 45.0 | 55.4 | 48.5 | 62.9 | - | - | - | 42.0 |
| M.S. | - | - | 47.6 | 56.0 | 59.9 | - | - | - | - | 52.0 | |
| Ph.D. | - | - | - | 69.0 | - | - | - | - | - | 67.2 | |
| Marketing | B.S. | - | 40.0 | 46.5 | 64.0 | - | - | - | - | - | 53.8 |
| M.S. | - | - | - | 61.0 | - | - | - | - | - | 62.9 | |
| Ph.D. | - | - | - | 74.3 | - | 86.5 | 84.8 | - | - | 75.0 | |
Women responding to ACS surveys are paid less than men. This difference is substantially due to women chemists being, on average, considerably younger and less likely to have an advanced degree.
An analysis that compares the salaries of men and women chemists working for industry at the same degree level and the same age indicates that women hold their own until about age 45. The data indicate that beyond that age, two things happen. Women tend to drop out of the workforce more than men do, and the salaries of the women who remain fall substantially behind those of their male contemporaries. This pattern does not contradict the concept of a glass ceiling for women.
In general, the salaries of women chemists hold up best compared with those of men chemists in government service and worst in academia, with industry in the middle. The higher ranks of academia still represent one of the toughest nuts for women chemists to crack (C&EN, June 10, page 8). For example, of 679 full professors responding to the 1996 survey, just 58 were women.
In industry, larger firms pay chemists substantially more on average than do smaller firms at all degree levels. This may reflect that small companies tend to have younger workforces.
| Number of employees | B.S. | M.S. | Ph.D. |
| Less than 500 | $40.0 | $49.0 | $70.0 |
| 500 to 2,499 | 43.4 | 54.6 | 71.6 |
| 2,500 to 9,999 | 50.0 | 62.6 | 74.0 |
| 10,000 to 24,900 | 50.0 | 56.0 | 75.1 |
| 25,000 and more | 50.2 | 60.0 | 80.0 |
| Median salary,$ thousands(a) | Non-Ph.D.school | Ph.D.school | Non-Ph.D.school | Ph.D.school |
| Full professor | $56.5 | $73.3 | $80.3 | $92.0 |
| Associate professor | 41.5 | 49.0 | 60.5 | 60.0 |
| Assistant professor | 36.1 | 42.0 | 50.5 | 48.5 |
The breakdown of this year's data by geographic region indicates that chemists working in the eastern half of the U.S. are paid more than those in the West. The differences are not large, but they persist at all degree levels. B.S. chemists in the East have a median salary of about $45,000. This compares with about $42,000 for those in the West. At the Ph.D. level, the difference is between about $68,000 and about $65,000, respectively.
Bonuses and consulting
Of those with full-time jobs responding to the 1996 survey question asking if
they received a bonus, 46.7% said they did, 31.9% said they didn't, and 21.5%
said the question wasn't applicable. Of those working in industry, almost
55% indicated that they received a bonus. This compares with 20% of
government-employed respondents and 11% of academics. The median bonus
received by the industrial chemists was $4,000.
In answering a similar question asking those with full-time jobs about additional income from consulting, 15.5% of respondents said they consult. By their primary job, 33.7% of academic respondents claim consulting income, as do 8.5% of those employed by industry and 8.8% of those in government. The overall median for consulting income was $3,000.
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