How much does a chemist make in California?
$97,860a year
Median yearly pay for chemists in California. That is $47.05 an hour or $8,155 a month.
- Hourly
- $47.05
- Vs. national median
- +7%
- Rank among states
- 16 of 51
- Jobs in the state
- 9,820
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $60,930Median: $97,860Highest 10%: $164,200
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $60,930 | $29.29 | |
| 25th | $76,340 | $36.70 | |
| Median | $97,860 | $47.05 | |
| 75th | $127,800 | $61.44 | |
| 90th | $164,200 | $78.92 |
Cities in California
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Francisco, CA | $127,800 |
| San Jose, CA | $114,900 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $97,570 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $95,840 |
| San Diego, CA | $95,160 |
| Salinas, CA | $95,080 |
| Riverside, CA | $92,660 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $92,240 |
| Napa, CA | $89,180 |
| Visalia, CA | $87,570 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $87,060 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $86,060 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $85,930 |
| Modesto, CA | $83,120 |
| Oxnard, CA | $82,960 |
| Sacramento, CA | $82,400 |
| Vallejo, CA | $81,470 |
| Stockton, CA | $80,080 |
| Fresno, CA | $73,470 |
Nearby in the ranking
States with similar pay for chemists.
| 13. Texas | $99,640 |
| 14. Minnesota | $99,280 |
| 15. Connecticut | $98,140 |
| 16. California | $97,860 |
| 17. Alabama | $97,830 |
| 18. Michigan | $97,440 |
| 19. Washington | $97,420 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chemist make an hour in California?
The median hourly pay in California is $47.05 ($97,860 a year).
Do chemists make more in California than the national average?
Yes: $97,860 against $91,240 nationally, 7% more.
Where does California rank for chemist pay?
California ranks 16 of 51 states.
Which city in California pays chemists the most?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, with a median of $127,800 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.