California Median
$97,860
per year
Hourly Rate
$47.05
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+7% vs US median
US median $91,240
State Rank
#16 of 51
9,820 employed here
How much does a Chemist make in California?
Chemists in California take home a median of $97,860 annually — roughly $47.05 an hour — which runs 7% above the national median of $91,240.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $60,930 while the top 10% make $164,150 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $76,340 and $127,790 a year.
Chemist salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,930 | $29.29 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $76,340 | $36.70 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $97,860 | $47.05 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $127,790 | $61.44 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $164,150 | $78.92 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 16th out of 51 states and territories for Chemist pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Chemist salary in other states
District of Columbia $149,860Maryland $140,670Delaware $129,860New Mexico $126,960Massachusetts $125,000Alaska $106,010Oregon $104,590Louisiana $103,890Wyoming $102,000Colorado $101,980Rhode Island $101,660New Hampshire $100,050Texas $99,640Minnesota $99,280Connecticut $98,140Alabama $97,830Michigan $97,440Washington $97,420North Dakota $97,330Virginia $96,650Georgia $92,750New York $90,600Tennessee $87,930Vermont $86,120Iowa $86,100West Virginia $85,560Ohio $85,270Illinois $85,230New Jersey $84,450Hawaii $84,150Kentucky $84,090Kansas $82,820Missouri $82,800Florida $82,740North Carolina $82,620Arizona $81,730Nevada $81,170Utah $80,770Mississippi $80,060South Carolina $79,670Indiana $78,770Wisconsin $78,730Idaho $78,000Pennsylvania $77,090Arkansas $75,570Oklahoma $74,960Nebraska $74,890South Dakota $67,440Maine $64,440Montana $61,890
Working as a Chemist in California
Nationally, about 83,000 people work as Chemists in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($97,860) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Chemist make in California?
The median Chemist salary in California is $97,860 per year, or about $47.05 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $60,930 at the entry level to $164,150 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Chemists about 7% more than the national median of $91,240. California ranks 16th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Chemists?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $97,860 a year. About 9,820 Chemists are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Chemist salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.