How much does a chemist make in San Francisco?
$127,800a year
Median yearly pay for chemists in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area. That is $61.44 an hour or $10,650 a month.
- Hourly
- $61.44
- Vs. national median
- +40%
- Rank among cities
- 6 of 212
- Jobs in the area
- 2,180
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $76,110Median: $127,800Highest 10%: $194,700
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $76,110 | $36.59 | |
| 25th | $96,100 | $46.20 | |
| Median | $127,800 | $61.44 | |
| 75th | $160,800 | $77.31 | |
| 90th | $194,700 | $93.62 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for chemists.
| 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 |
| 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 Francisco
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Materials Scientist | $231,700 |
| Psychologist | $168,000 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologist | $166,400 |
| Biochemist and Biophysicist | $165,100 |
| Medical Scientist | $160,200 |
| Hydrologist | $147,100 |
| Economist | $142,400 |
| Biological Scientist | $138,200 |
| Urban and Regional Planner | $136,300 |
| Life Scientist | $134,800 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chemist make an hour in San Francisco?
The median hourly pay in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $61.44 ($127,800 a year).
Do chemists make more in San Francisco than the national average?
Yes: $127,800 against $91,240 nationally, 40% more.
How does San Francisco compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $97,860, so San Francisco pays 31% more.
Where does San Francisco rank for chemist pay?
6 of 212 metro areas with data.
How much does a chemist make starting out in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% make $76,110 or less a year; the top 10% make $194,700 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.