How much does a chemist make in San Jose?
$114,900a year
Median yearly pay for chemists in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area. That is $55.24 an hour or $9,574 a month.
- Hourly
- $55.24
- Vs. national median
- +26%
- Rank among cities
- 14 of 212
- Jobs in the area
- 580
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $75,990Median: $114,900Highest 10%: $184,600
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $75,990 | $36.53 | |
| 25th | $91,010 | $43.75 | |
| Median | $114,900 | $55.24 | |
| 75th | $150,600 | $72.42 | |
| 90th | $184,600 | $88.75 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for chemists.
| San Francisco, CA | $127,800 |
| 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 Jose
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Materials Scientist | $231,900 |
| Psychologist | $175,200 |
| Physicist | $173,500 |
| Physical Scientist | $160,600 |
| Medical Scientist | $159,300 |
| Urban and Regional Planner | $139,400 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $137,300 |
| Geoscientist | $136,100 |
| Biological Scientist | $133,800 |
| School Psychologist | $130,500 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chemist make an hour in San Jose?
The median hourly pay in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $55.24 ($114,900 a year).
Do chemists make more in San Jose than the national average?
Yes: $114,900 against $91,240 nationally, 26% more.
How does San Jose compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $97,860, so San Jose pays 17% more.
Where does San Jose rank for chemist pay?
14 of 212 metro areas with data.
How much does a chemist make starting out in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% make $75,990 or less a year; the top 10% make $184,600 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.