SOC 19-2031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chemists — California
California · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage here is $97,860 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $91,240.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage here is $97,860 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $91,240. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $76,340 and $127,790. The lowest tenth earn under $60,930, while the highest tenth earn more than $164,150.
The area has 9,820 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.5 of every thousand jobs. California ranks number 16th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, San Francisco records the highest median at $127,790. Of the 793 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 230th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $60,930 | −33.2% |
| 25th | $76,340 | −16.3% |
| Median (50th) | $97,860 | +7.3% |
| 75th | $127,790 | +40.1% |
| 90th | $164,150 | +79.9% |
| Mean | $106,810 | +17.1% |
Highest-paying metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco | $127,790 | 2,180 | |
| 2 | San Jose | $114,890 | 580 | |
| 3 | Bakersfield | $97,570 | 190 | |
| 4 | Santa Cruz | $95,840 | 70 | |
| 5 | San Diego | $95,160 | 1,370 | |
| 6 | Salinas | $95,080 | 30 | |
| 7 | Riverside | $92,660 | 480 | |
| 8 | Santa Rosa | $92,240 | 80 | |
| 9 | Napa | $89,180 | 50 | |
| 10 | Visalia | $87,570 | 30 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in California run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $97,860 buys what $88,401 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 3.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$97,860as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$88,401US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $97,860 a year, 7.3% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $60,930 to $164,150 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 9,820 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 16th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Francisco, at $127,790.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chemists in California?
The median annual wage is $97,860, or $47.05 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 $91,240, so pay in California is 7.3% higher. 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 $164,150 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $60,930 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 $127,790 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 9,820 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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