Chemical Engineer salary in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Chemical Engineers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median of $134,210 a year ($64.52 an hour), based on BLS data for 320 workers.
Pay ranges from $81,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $202,690 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $125,040. There are 0.05 chemical engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.37). The average (mean) salary is $142,640, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chemical engineers in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,030 | $38.96 |
| 25th percentile | $100,680 | $48.41 |
| Median | $134,210 | $64.52 |
| 75th percentile | $168,110 | $80.82 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $202,690 | $97.45 |
| Average (mean) | $142,640 | $68.58 |
Half of chemical engineers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $11,184.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,592.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,161.92 |
| Weekly | $2,580.96 |
| Hourly | $64.52 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $134,210 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chemical Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $106,200 | n/a |
Highest-paying states for chemical engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | $158,190 |
| Virginia | $136,380 |
| Alabama | $135,030 |
| Louisiana | $134,800 |
| Delaware | $133,670 |
| Texas | $132,750 |
| West Virginia | $129,210 |
| New York | $129,060 |
| Washington | $128,290 |
| Oklahoma | $127,790 |
Related jobs in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $108,640 | $52.23 |
| Industrial Engineer | $113,040 | $54.34 |
| Electrical Engineer | $139,780 | $67.20 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $123,900 | $59.57 |
| Engineers, All Other | $125,060 | $60.13 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $163,280 | $78.50 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $140,530 | $67.56 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $158,530 | $76.22 |
| Materials Engineer | $125,200 | $60.19 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $128,240 | $61.65 |
| Environmental Engineer | $127,900 | $61.49 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $131,540 | $63.24 |
| Petroleum Engineer | $167,000 | $80.29 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $144,230 | $69.34 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-2041. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chemical engineer make in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The median salary for chemical engineers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $134,210 a year, or $64.52 an hour. Pay ranges from $81,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $202,690 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemical engineers make in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The top 10% of chemical engineers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn at least $202,690 a year. The top 25% earn $168,110 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemical engineers in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $81,030 a year, and a quarter of chemical engineers earn $100,680 or less.
How many chemical engineers work in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
About 320 chemical engineers are employed in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.