SOC 19-2031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chemists — North Coast Region of California
North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Chemists in North Coast Region of California, CA is $79,750 per year, 12.6% below the national median of $91,240.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Chemists in North Coast Region of California, CA is $79,750 per year, 12.6% below the national median of $91,240. Pay ranges from under $59,510 at the tenth percentile to more than $127,730 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $64,350 to $98,270.
The area has 30 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.3 of every thousand jobs. San Francisco leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $127,790. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 86th of 340 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $59,510 | −34.8% |
| 25th | $64,350 | −29.5% |
| Median (50th) | $79,750 | −12.6% |
| 75th | $98,270 | +7.7% |
| 90th | $127,730 | +40.0% |
| Mean | $89,030 | −2.4% |
Other 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 North Coast Region of California run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $79,750 buys what $72,042 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 21.0% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$79,750as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$72,042US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $79,750 a year, 12.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $59,510 to $127,730 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 30 jobs in 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 North Coast Region of California, CA?
The median annual wage is $79,750, or $38.34 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 North Coast Region of California, CA is 12.6% 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 North Coast Region of California, CA earns more than $127,730 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $59,510 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 30 jobs in this occupation in North Coast Region of California, CA. 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.
Explore related data