Chemist salary in California
Chemists in California earn a median of $97,860 a year ($47.05 an hour), based on BLS data for 9,820 workers.
Pay ranges from $60,930 for the lowest-paid 10% to $164,150 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $91,240. California ranks 16th of 51 states for chemists pay. There are 0.54 chemists per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $106,810, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chemists in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,930 | $29.29 |
| 25th percentile | $76,340 | $36.70 |
| Median | $97,860 | $47.05 |
| 75th percentile | $127,790 | $61.44 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $164,150 | $78.92 |
| Average (mean) | $106,810 | $51.35 |
Half of chemists 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 | $8,155 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,077.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,763.85 |
| Weekly | $1,881.92 |
| Hourly | $47.05 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chemist salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $127,790 | 2,180 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $114,890 | 580 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $97,570 | 190 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $95,840 | 70 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $95,160 | 1,370 |
| Salinas, CA | $95,080 | 30 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $92,660 | 480 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $92,240 | 80 |
| Napa, CA | $89,180 | 50 |
| Visalia, CA | $87,570 | 30 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $87,060 | 3,190 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $86,060 | 40 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $85,930 | 110 |
| Modesto, CA | $83,120 | 90 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $82,960 | 220 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $82,400 | 400 |
| Vallejo, CA | $81,470 | 130 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $80,080 | 70 |
| Fresno, CA | $73,470 | 120 |
Highest-paying states for chemists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $149,860 |
| Maryland | $140,670 |
| Delaware | $129,860 |
| New Mexico | $126,960 |
| Massachusetts | $125,000 |
| Alaska | $106,010 |
| Oregon | $104,590 |
| Louisiana | $103,890 |
| Wyoming | $102,000 |
| Colorado | $101,980 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $106,510 | $51.21 |
| Physicist | $207,490 | $99.75 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $106,500 | $51.20 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $130,610 | $62.79 |
| Materials Scientist | $177,030 | $85.11 |
| Hydrologist | $122,110 | $58.71 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $124,920 | $60.06 |
| Astronomer | $123,540 | $59.39 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $136,990 | $65.86 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $102,840 | $49.44 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $116,000 | $55.77 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $113,530 | $54.58 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $78,350 | $37.67 |
| Biological Technician | $71,440 | $34.34 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-2031. 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 chemist make in California?
The median salary for chemists in California is $97,860 a year, or $47.05 an hour. Pay ranges from $60,930 for the lowest-paid 10% to $164,150 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemists make in California?
The top 10% of chemists in California earn at least $164,150 a year. The top 25% earn $127,790 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemists in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $60,930 a year, and a quarter of chemists earn $76,340 or less.
How many chemists work in California?
About 9,820 chemists are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.