How much does a chemist make in San Diego?
$95,160a year
Median yearly pay for chemists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $45.75 an hour or $7,930 a month.
- Hourly
- $45.75
- Vs. national median
- +4%
- Rank among cities
- 61 of 212
- Jobs in the area
- 1,370
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $61,500Median: $95,160Highest 10%: $158,700
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $61,500 | $29.57 | |
| 25th | $72,550 | $34.88 | |
| Median | $95,160 | $45.75 | |
| 75th | $128,000 | $61.53 | |
| 90th | $158,700 | $76.27 |
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 |
| Riverside, CA | $92,660 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $92,240 |
| Napa, CA | $89,180 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $87,060 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Physicist | $156,500 |
| Psychologist | $148,800 |
| Physical Scientist | $132,400 |
| School Psychologist | $131,100 |
| Medical Scientist | $131,000 |
| Epidemiologist | $125,300 |
| Economist | $122,800 |
| Biochemist and Biophysicist | $121,700 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientist | $120,400 |
| Microbiologist | $108,900 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chemist make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $45.75 ($95,160 a year).
Do chemists make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $95,160 against $91,240 nationally, 4% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $97,860, so San Diego pays 3% less.
Where does San Diego rank for chemist pay?
61 of 212 metro areas with data.
How much does a chemist make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $61,500 or less a year; the top 10% make $158,700 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.