Chemist salary in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Chemists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median of $95,160 a year ($45.75 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,370 workers.
Pay ranges from $61,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $158,650 for the top 10%. That is 4% higher than the national median of $91,240. Pay here is 3% lower than the California statewide median of $97,860. There are 0.89 chemists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $101,250, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chemists in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,500 | $29.57 |
| 25th percentile | $72,550 | $34.88 |
| Median | $95,160 | $45.75 |
| 75th percentile | $127,980 | $61.53 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $158,650 | $76.27 |
| Average (mean) | $101,250 | $48.68 |
Half of chemists 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 | $7,930 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,965 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,660 |
| Weekly | $1,830 |
| Hourly | $45.75 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $95,160 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chemist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $127,790 | 2,180 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $114,890 | 580 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $97,570 | 190 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $95,840 | 70 |
| Salinas, CA | $95,080 | 30 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $92,660 | 480 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $92,240 | 80 |
| Napa, CA | $89,180 | 50 |
| Visalia, CA | $87,570 | 30 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $87,060 | 3,190 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $86,060 | 40 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $85,930 | 110 |
| Modesto, CA | $83,120 | 90 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $82,960 | 220 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $82,400 | 400 |
| Vallejo, CA | $81,470 | 130 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $80,080 | 70 |
| Fresno, CA | $73,470 | 120 |
Highest-paying states for chemists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $149,860 |
| Maryland | $140,670 |
| Delaware | $129,860 |
| New Mexico | $126,960 |
| Massachusetts | $125,000 |
| Alaska | $106,010 |
| Oregon | $104,590 |
| Louisiana | $103,890 |
| Wyoming | $102,000 |
| Colorado | $101,980 |
See Chemist pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $106,100 | $51.01 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $104,760 | $50.37 |
| Physicist | $156,480 | $75.23 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $132,410 | $63.66 |
| Materials Scientist | $96,050 | $46.18 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $120,370 | $57.87 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $130,980 | $62.97 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $108,350 | $52.09 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $75,970 | $36.52 |
| Biological Technician | $67,060 | $32.24 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $72,090 | $34.66 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $101,230 | $48.67 |
| Chemical Technician | $57,270 | $27.54 |
| School Psychologist | $131,070 | $63.02 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-2031. 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 chemist make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The median salary for chemists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $95,160 a year, or $45.75 an hour. Pay ranges from $61,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $158,650 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemists make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The top 10% of chemists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn at least $158,650 a year. The top 25% earn $127,980 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemists in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $61,500 a year, and a quarter of chemists earn $72,550 or less.
How many chemists work in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
About 1,370 chemists are employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.