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Chemists average salary by city in California
- San Francisco$130,870
- San Jose$121,350
- Bakersfield$105,620
- Salinas$104,930
- San Diego$101,250
- Napa$100,740
- Santa Rosa$100,440
- Los Angeles$99,150
- Santa Cruz$97,460
- Santa Maria$95,140
- Sacramento$94,510
- Riverside$92,540
- Vallejo$92,020
- Oxnard$91,840
- San Luis Obispo$91,820
- Stockton$91,350
- Visalia$89,540
- Modesto$87,650
- Fresno$79,770
Pay, take-home pay and cost of living
| City | Average | Median | 25th pct. | Take-home* | Cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $130,870 | $127,790 | $96,100 | $92,637 | 116 |
| San Jose | $121,350 | $114,890 | $91,010 | $87,006 | 110 |
| Bakersfield | $105,620 | $97,570 | $72,620 | $77,403 | 101 |
| Salinas | $104,930 | $95,080 | $80,580 | $76,982 | 109 |
| San Diego | $101,250 | $95,160 | $72,550 | $74,735 | 112 |
| Napa | $100,740 | $89,180 | $69,570 | $74,424 | 113 |
| Santa Rosa | $100,440 | $92,240 | $79,910 | $74,241 | 108 |
| Los Angeles | $99,150 | $87,060 | $74,920 | $73,453 | 114 |
| Santa Cruz | $97,460 | $95,840 | $69,600 | $72,421 | 110 |
| Santa Maria | $95,140 | $85,930 | $62,290 | $71,005 | 109 |
| Sacramento | $94,510 | $82,400 | $66,390 | $70,620 | 107 |
| Riverside | $92,540 | $92,660 | $70,520 | $69,418 | 106 |
| Vallejo | $92,020 | $81,470 | $64,250 | $69,100 | 108 |
| Oxnard | $91,840 | $82,960 | $64,990 | $68,990 | 111 |
| San Luis Obispo | $91,820 | $86,060 | $68,140 | $68,978 | 109 |
| Stockton | $91,350 | $80,080 | $72,740 | $68,691 | 105 |
| Visalia | $89,540 | $87,570 | $61,670 | $67,586 | 100 |
| Modesto | $87,650 | $83,120 | $62,600 | $66,432 | 104 |
| Fresno | $79,770 | $73,470 | $61,770 | $61,622 | 102 |
*Average salary after federal and state taxes for a single filer; California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included. Cost of living: BEA price parity, U.S. = 100.
Chemists salary in other states
More about pay in California
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-2031.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
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