Chemist salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Chemists in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $95,840 a year ($46.08 an hour), based on BLS data for 70 workers.
Pay ranges from $61,560 for the lowest-paid 10% to $135,810 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $91,240. Pay here is 2% lower than the California statewide median of $97,860. There are 0.70 chemists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $97,460, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chemists in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,560 | $29.60 |
| 25th percentile | $69,600 | $33.46 |
| Median | $95,840 | $46.08 |
| 75th percentile | $118,160 | $56.81 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $135,810 | $65.29 |
| Average (mean) | $97,460 | $46.86 |
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 | $7,986.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,993.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,686.15 |
| Weekly | $1,843.08 |
| Hourly | $46.08 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $95,840 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chemist salary in other metro areas nearby
| 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 |
| 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 |
See Chemist pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $103,610 | $49.81 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $136,120 | $65.44 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $134,060 | $64.45 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $112,270 | $53.98 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $106,430 | $51.17 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $98,400 | $47.31 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $112,860 | $54.26 |
| Biological Technician | $66,240 | $31.84 |
| Conservation Scientist | $72,860 | $35.03 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $66,000 | $31.73 |
| Forest and Conservation Technicians | $46,010 | $22.12 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $66,290 | $31.87 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $66,040 | $31.75 |
| Chemical Technician | $57,390 | $27.59 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for chemists in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $95,840 a year, or $46.08 an hour. Pay ranges from $61,560 for the lowest-paid 10% to $135,810 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemists make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of chemists in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $135,810 a year. The top 25% earn $118,160 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemists in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $61,560 a year, and a quarter of chemists earn $69,600 or less.
How many chemists work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 70 chemists are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.