The median annual wage for Chemists in California is $97,010 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $105,500.
Pay spans roughly $58,750 at the 10th percentile to $164,640 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $46.64 per hour. An estimated 8,480 people work as chemists in California.
| Median (annual) | $97,010 |
| Mean (annual) | $105,500 |
| Median (hourly) | $46.64 |
| 10th percentile | $58,750 |
| 90th percentile | $164,640 |
| Employment | 8,480 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.