Chemical scientists salary in the UK (2025/26)
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£39,668
Understanding Chemical scientists pay in the UK
The typical chemical scientists in the UK earns a median salary of £39,668 in 2025/26. These figures come from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), so they reflect actual reported pay rather than self-reported estimates or job-advert ranges.
The mean (average) salary is higher, at £48,737. When the mean sits above the median like this, a smaller group of high earners is pulling the average up, which is why the median is the better guide to what a typical chemical scientists actually takes home.
Where you work changes the picture: chemical scientists pay ranges from £16,993 in South West up to £49,610 in North East, a difference of £32,617 (192%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see chemical scientists pay in North East or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
North East is the highest-paying region for chemical scientists at £49,610 — 25% above the UK median. South West is lowest at £16,993.
UK median £39,668
| Region | Median payUK median £39,668 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North East | £49,610 | £49,610 | £51,252 | +25% |
| East of England | £38,920 | £38,920 | £42,869 | -2% |
| Scotland | £35,111 | £35,111 | £39,608 | -11% |
| North West | £32,170 | £32,170 | £33,824 | -19% |
| East Midlands | £31,726 | £31,726 | £32,414 | -20% |
| London | £23,965 | £23,965 | £22,957 | -40% |
| Wales | £19,753 | £19,753 | £19,676 | -50% |
| South East | £18,678 | £18,678 | £19,485 | -53% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £18,622 | £18,622 | £21,022 | -53% |
| West Midlands | £17,488 | £17,488 | £18,393 | -56% |
| South West | £16,993 | £16,993 | £19,015 | -57% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| North East £49,610 | £49,610Mean £51,252 | +25% |
| East of England £38,920 | £38,920Mean £42,869 | -2% |
| Scotland £35,111 | £35,111Mean £39,608 | -11% |
| North West £32,170 | £32,170Mean £33,824 | -19% |
| East Midlands £31,726 | £31,726Mean £32,414 | -20% |
| London £23,965 | £23,965Mean £22,957 | -40% |
| Wales £19,753 | £19,753Mean £19,676 | -50% |
| South East £18,678 | £18,678Mean £19,485 | -53% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £18,622 | £18,622Mean £21,022 | -53% |
| West Midlands £17,488 | £17,488Mean £18,393 | -56% |
| South West £16,993 | £16,993Mean £19,015 | -57% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£39,668); ‘Vs UK median’ compares each region’s median to it. Suppressed values mean ONS withheld this figure because the sample was too small to publish.
Make it local
Calculate take-home pay for your region
Choose a region above to see local chemical scientists pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow chemical scientists pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for chemical scientists by year (ONS ASHE).
Median salary
▪ 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
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