Chemists Salary in California (2025)
Official BLS OEWS data · May 2025 · 9,820 employed
Annual Mean
$106,810
$51.35/hr
Annual Median
$97,860
$47.05/hr
Bottom 10%
$60,930
$29.29/hr
Top 10%
$164,150
$78.92/hr
Location vs National Average
California
$106,810
Difference
+6.3% vs US avg
US National
$100,450
Salary Percentile Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual |
|---|---|
10th Percentile Bottom 10% | $60,930 |
25th Percentile Lower quarter | $76,340 |
50th PercentileMedian Median | $97,860 |
75th Percentile Upper quarter | $127,790 |
90th Percentile Top 10% | $164,150 |
Salary Distribution
Annual Salary Range
10th
$61K
25th
$76K
Median
$98K
75th
$128K
90th
$164K
California has a moderate number of Chemists positions (approximately 9,820), reflecting steady demand in this occupation.
In California, Chemists salaries range from $60,930 at the 10th percentile to $164,150 at the 90th percentile — a spread of $103,220 (105% of the median). This wide range suggests significant variation based on experience and employer in this area.
Top Paying Cities in California
Metro areas with highest Chemists wages
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$130,870
per year
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$121,350
per year
Bakersfield-Delano, CA
$105,620
per year
Salinas, CA
$104,930
per year
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$101,250
per year
Napa, CA
$100,740
per year
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$100,440
per year
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
$99,150
per year
How Chemists Compares in California
The average Chemists salary of $106,810 in California ranks above the national average of $100,450. There are approximately 9,820 Chemistss employed in California.
Psychiatrists$315,380
Radiologists$309,990
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$90,150
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$82,220
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Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · Public domain · Not affiliated with BLS.