How much does a chemist make in Los Angeles?
$87,060a year
Median yearly pay for chemists in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area. That is $41.86 an hour or $7,255 a month.
- Hourly
- $41.86
- Vs. national median
- -5%
- Rank among cities
- 94 of 212
- Jobs in the area
- 3,190
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $59,570Median: $87,060Highest 10%: $135,800
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $59,570 | $28.64 | |
| 25th | $74,920 | $36.02 | |
| Median | $87,060 | $41.86 | |
| 75th | $113,600 | $54.63 | |
| 90th | $135,800 | $65.29 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for chemists.
| San Francisco, CA | $127,800 |
| San Jose, CA | $114,900 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $97,570 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $95,840 |
| San Diego, CA | $95,160 |
| Riverside, CA | $92,660 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $92,240 |
| Napa, CA | $89,180 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Los Angeles
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Physicist | $160,300 |
| Psychologist | $153,600 |
| Economist | $151,500 |
| Materials Scientist | $150,000 |
| Physical Scientist | $136,200 |
| Medical Scientist | $134,900 |
| Biochemist and Biophysicist | $131,700 |
| Sociologist | $124,500 |
| Hydrologist | $123,400 |
| School Psychologist | $122,400 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chemist make an hour in Los Angeles?
The median hourly pay in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $41.86 ($87,060 a year).
Do chemists make more in Los Angeles than the national average?
No: $87,060 against $91,240 nationally, 5% less.
How does Los Angeles compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $97,860, so Los Angeles pays 11% less.
Where does Los Angeles rank for chemist pay?
94 of 212 metro areas with data.
How much does a chemist make starting out in Los Angeles?
The lowest-paid 10% make $59,570 or less a year; the top 10% make $135,800 or more.
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.