Chemical Technician salary in Salinas, CA
Chemical Technicians in the Salinas, CA metro area earn a median of $54,220 a year ($26.07 an hour), based on BLS data for 30 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $68,970 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $60,390. Pay here is 9% lower than the California statewide median of $59,510. There are 0.16 chemical technicians per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.44). The average (mean) salary is $55,350, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chemical technicians in Salinas, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,550 | $19.50 |
| 25th percentile | $48,820 | $23.47 |
| Median | $54,220 | $26.07 |
| 75th percentile | $63,630 | $30.59 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $68,970 | $33.16 |
| Average (mean) | $55,350 | $26.61 |
Half of chemical technicians earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,518.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,259.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,085.38 |
| Weekly | $1,042.69 |
| Hourly | $26.07 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chemical Technician salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $71,470 | 1,040 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $67,140 | 470 |
| Vallejo, CA | $62,470 | 70 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $60,870 | 260 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $58,580 | 130 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $58,070 | 2,330 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $57,610 | 80 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $57,390 | 40 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $57,380 | 90 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $57,270 | 910 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $56,630 | 140 |
| Modesto, CA | $56,250 | 120 |
| Napa, CA | $55,750 | 60 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $55,620 | 410 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $52,290 | 70 |
| Visalia, CA | $51,360 | 50 |
| Fresno, CA | $50,610 | 120 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $46,950 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for chemical technicians
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Louisiana | $85,850 |
| Alaska | $79,380 |
| Delaware | $78,620 |
| South Carolina | $75,020 |
| Missouri | $68,550 |
| Massachusetts | $67,570 |
| Arizona | $65,860 |
| Vermont | $65,560 |
| Hawaii | $63,910 |
| Colorado | $63,770 |
See Chemical Technician pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Salinas, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Forest and Conservation Technicians | $59,920 | $28.81 |
| Agricultural Technician | $53,510 | $25.73 |
| Food Science Technician | $52,870 | $25.42 |
| Biological Technician | $59,320 | $28.52 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $63,510 | $30.53 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $99,770 | $47.97 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $138,590 | $66.63 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $125,300 | $60.24 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $98,430 | $47.32 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $101,560 | $48.83 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $104,540 | $50.26 |
| Conservation Scientist | $77,020 | $37.03 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $84,900 | $40.82 |
| Chemist | $95,080 | $45.71 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Salinas, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-4031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chemical technician make in Salinas, CA?
The median salary for chemical technicians in the Salinas, CA metro area is $54,220 a year, or $26.07 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $68,970 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemical technicians make in Salinas, CA?
The top 10% of chemical technicians in the Salinas, CA metro area earn at least $68,970 a year. The top 25% earn $63,630 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemical technicians in Salinas, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,550 a year, and a quarter of chemical technicians earn $48,820 or less.
How many chemical technicians work in Salinas, CA?
About 30 chemical technicians are employed in the Salinas, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.