Chemists pay in California
$106,810avg. a year
$51.35 an hour · 9,820 employed
Chemists in California earn an average of $106,810 a year. That is $6,360 (6%) more than the U.S. average of $100,450. The best-paying metro area is San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $130,870.
$97,860Median pay
$51.35Average hourly
+24%Avg. pay since 2020
#8Of 50 states + D.C.
Top-paying California metro areas
Average pay for chemists by metro area. Swipe to see all 19.
12,180 jobs
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$130,870
$62.92 an hour
2580 jobs
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$121,350
$58.34 an hour
3190 jobs
Bakersfield-Delano, CA
$105,620
$50.78 an hour
430 jobs
Salinas, CA
$104,930
$50.45 an hour
51,370 jobs
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$101,250
$48.68 an hour
650 jobs
Napa, CA
$100,740
$48.43 an hour
780 jobs
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$100,440
$48.29 an hour
83,190 jobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
$99,150
$47.67 an hour
970 jobs
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
$97,460
$46.86 an hour
10110 jobs
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
$95,140
$45.74 an hour
11400 jobs
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
$94,510
$45.44 an hour
12480 jobs
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
$92,540
$44.49 an hour
13130 jobs
Vallejo, CA
$92,020
$44.24 an hour
14220 jobs
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
$91,840
$44.15 an hour
1540 jobs
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
$91,820
$44.14 an hour
1670 jobs
Stockton-Lodi, CA
$91,350
$43.92 an hour
1730 jobs
Visalia, CA
$89,540
$43.05 an hour
1890 jobs
Modesto, CA
$87,650
$42.14 an hour
19120 jobs
Fresno, CA
$79,770
$38.35 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Chemists pay in California, charted
Pay over time
California, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where California chemists work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · California highlighted · tap a state
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Under $88k$88k–$94k$94k–$104k$104k+California
California vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $100,450 | $48.29 |
| California | $106,810 | $51.35 |
| Oregon | $111,320 | $53.52 |
| Arizona | $92,120 | $44.29 |
| Nevada | $86,700 | $41.68 |
Related jobs in California
Average pay, California, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do chemists make in California?
The average is $106,810 a year, and the median is $97,860. That is $6,360 (6%) more than the U.S. average of $100,450.
What is the hourly wage in California?
$51.35 an hour on average; the median is $47.05.
Where in California do they earn the most?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($130,870), followed by San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($121,350). The lowest average among 19 metro areas with data is Fresno, CA ($79,770).
How does California rank?
California ranks #8 of 51 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 19-2031. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national chemists page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.