Chemist salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Chemists in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median of $114,890 a year ($55.24 an hour), based on BLS data for 580 workers.
Pay ranges from $75,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $184,590 for the top 10%. That is 26% higher than the national median of $91,240. Pay here is 17% higher than the California statewide median of $97,860. There are 0.51 chemists per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $121,350, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chemists in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $75,990 | $36.54 |
| 25th percentile | $91,010 | $43.76 |
| Median | $114,890 | $55.24 |
| 75th percentile | $150,630 | $72.42 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $184,590 | $88.75 |
| Average (mean) | $121,350 | $58.34 |
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 | $9,574.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,787.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,418.85 |
| Weekly | $2,209.42 |
| Hourly | $55.24 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $114,890 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 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $97,570 | 190 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $95,840 | 70 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $95,160 | 1,370 |
| 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Physicist | $173,450 | $83.39 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $106,510 | $51.21 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $160,580 | $77.20 |
| Materials Scientist | $231,920 | $111.50 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $136,120 | $65.44 |
| Hydrologist | $142,640 | $68.58 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $159,300 | $76.59 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $128,980 | $62.01 |
| Biological Technician | $72,940 | $35.07 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $133,790 | $64.32 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $102,710 | $49.38 |
| Chemical Technician | $67,140 | $32.28 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $83,160 | $39.98 |
| Social Science Research Assistant | $75,010 | $36.06 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median salary for chemists in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $114,890 a year, or $55.24 an hour. Pay ranges from $75,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $184,590 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemists make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The top 10% of chemists in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn at least $184,590 a year. The top 25% earn $150,630 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemists in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $75,990 a year, and a quarter of chemists earn $91,010 or less.
How many chemists work in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
About 580 chemists are employed in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.