Chemists pay in California
In California, the median pay for chemists is $47.05 an hour ($97,860 a year). About 9,820 people work in this job there.
That is 7% higher than the U.S. median ($91,240). California ranks 16th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for chemists in California
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $29.29 | $60,930 |
| 25% of workers | $36.70 | $76,340 |
| Half of workers (median) | $47.05 | $97,860 |
| 75% of workers | $61.44 | $127,790 |
| 90% of workers | $78.92 | $164,150 |
Chemists pay in California metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $127,790 | 2,180 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $114,890 | 580 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $97,570 | 190 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $95,840 | 70 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $95,160 | 1,370 |
| Salinas | $95,080 | 30 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $92,660 | 480 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $92,240 | 80 |
| Napa | $89,180 | 50 |
| Visalia | $87,570 | 30 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $87,060 | 3,190 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $86,060 | 40 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $85,930 | 110 |
| Modesto | $83,120 | 90 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $82,960 | 220 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $82,400 | 400 |
| Vallejo | $81,470 | 130 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $80,080 | 70 |
| Fresno | $73,470 | 120 |
California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for chemists
- Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 2 to 4 years (O*NET)
- Job outlook: +6.4% over ten years, faster than average · about 5,900 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $106,510 |
| Physicists | $207,490 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $106,500 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $130,610 |
| Materials Scientists | $177,030 |
| Hydrologists | $122,110 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $124,920 |
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.