Chemical Technician salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Chemical Technicians in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $57,390 a year ($27.59 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $46,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $82,330 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $60,390. Pay here is 4% lower than the California statewide median of $59,510. There are 0.36 chemical technicians per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $58,240, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chemical technicians in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,710 | $22.46 |
| 25th percentile | $48,160 | $23.16 |
| Median | $57,390 | $27.59 |
| 75th percentile | $60,500 | $29.09 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $82,330 | $39.58 |
| Average (mean) | $58,240 | $28.00 |
Half of chemical technicians 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 | $4,782.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,391.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,207.31 |
| Weekly | $1,103.65 |
| Hourly | $27.59 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $57,390 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 Technician salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $71,470 | 1,040 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $67,140 | 470 |
| Vallejo, CA | $62,470 | 70 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $60,870 | 260 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $58,580 | 130 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $58,070 | 2,330 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $57,610 | 80 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $57,380 | 90 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $57,270 | 910 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $56,630 | 140 |
| Modesto, CA | $56,250 | 120 |
| Napa, CA | $55,750 | 60 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $55,620 | 410 |
| Salinas, CA | $54,220 | 30 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $52,290 | 70 |
| Visalia, CA | $51,360 | 50 |
| Fresno, CA | $50,610 | 120 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $46,950 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for chemical technicians
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Louisiana | $85,850 |
| Alaska | $79,380 |
| Delaware | $78,620 |
| South Carolina | $75,020 |
| Missouri | $68,550 |
| Massachusetts | $67,570 |
| Arizona | $65,860 |
| Vermont | $65,560 |
| Hawaii | $63,910 |
| Colorado | $63,770 |
See Chemical Technician pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Biological Technician | $66,240 | $31.84 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $66,000 | $31.73 |
| Forest and Conservation Technicians | $46,010 | $22.12 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $66,290 | $31.87 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $134,060 | $64.45 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $112,270 | $53.98 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $103,610 | $49.81 |
| Chemist | $95,840 | $46.08 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $106,430 | $51.17 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $98,400 | $47.31 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $112,860 | $54.26 |
| Conservation Scientist | $72,860 | $35.03 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $136,120 | $65.44 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $66,040 | $31.75 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-4031. 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 technician make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for chemical technicians in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $57,390 a year, or $27.59 an hour. Pay ranges from $46,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $82,330 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemical technicians make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of chemical technicians in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $82,330 a year. The top 25% earn $60,500 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemical technicians in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $46,710 a year, and a quarter of chemical technicians earn $48,160 or less.
How many chemical technicians work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 40 chemical technicians are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.