SOC 19-4031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chemical Technicians — California
California · 10 metro areas compared
At $59,510, median pay for Chemical Technicians in California tracks the national median of $60,390 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $59,510, median pay for Chemical Technicians in California tracks the national median of $60,390 closely. Pay ranges from under $44,070 at the tenth percentile to more than $88,900 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $49,810 to $73,680.
Employment stands at 6,800, or 0.4 jobs per thousand held locally. California ranks number 23rd out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, San Francisco records the highest median at $71,470. Of the 793 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 493rd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $44,070 | −27.0% |
| 25th | $49,810 | −17.5% |
| Median (50th) | $59,510 | −1.5% |
| 75th | $73,680 | +22.0% |
| 90th | $88,900 | +47.2% |
| Mean | $64,570 | +6.9% |
Highest-paying metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco | $71,470 | 1,040 | |
| 2 | San Jose | $67,140 | 470 | |
| 3 | Vallejo | $62,470 | 70 | |
| 4 | Sacramento | $60,870 | 260 | |
| 5 | Oxnard | $58,580 | 130 | |
| 6 | Los Angeles | $58,070 | 2,330 | |
| 7 | Santa Maria | $57,610 | 80 | |
| 8 | Santa Cruz | $57,390 | 40 | |
| 9 | Santa Rosa | $57,380 | 90 | |
| 10 | San Diego | $57,270 | 910 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in California run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $59,510 buys what $53,758 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 11.0% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$59,510as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$53,758US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $59,510 a year, 1.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $44,070 to $88,900 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 6,800 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 23rd of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Francisco, at $71,470.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chemical Technicians in California?
The median annual wage is $59,510, or $28.61 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $60,390, so pay in California is 1.5% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in California earns more than $88,900 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $44,070 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in San Francisco, at $71,470 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 6,800 jobs in this occupation in California. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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