Chemist Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Chemists in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $87,060 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $65,078 take-home, or $5,423 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median chemist salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$10,323
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,398
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,262
- California income tax$3,867
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,132
- Take-home pay$65,078
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Chemist pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $59,570 | $28.64 | $47,646 | $3,971 |
| 25th percentile | $74,920 | $36.02 | $57,781 | $4,815 |
| Median (50th) | $87,060 | $41.86 | $65,078 | $5,423 |
| 75th percentile | $113,630 | $54.63 | $80,954 | $6,746 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $135,800 | $65.29 | $93,920 | $7,827 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $87,060 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median chemist's $65,078 take-home pay has the buying power of $57,304 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chemist jobs are about as common in Los Angeles, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.95).
Best-paying cities for chemists, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #7 of 7 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $144,680 | $100,825 | $92,599 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $127,290 | $92,124 | $85,091 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $106,740 | $83,922 | $85,088 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $95,440 | $73,042 | $71,223 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $90,920 | $68,436 | $66,062 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $85,150 | $64,732 | $57,507 |
| 7 | Los Angeles, CA | $87,060 | $65,078 | $57,304 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 7 metros →
About the job: chemists
Conduct qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses or experiments in laboratories for quality or process control or to develop new products or knowledge.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +6.4% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chemist make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median chemist salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $87,060 a year, or about $41.86 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $74,920 and $113,630.
What is a chemist’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $87,060 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $65,078 a year ($5,423 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,999 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a chemist?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $91,240. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $57,304 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #7 of 7 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chemist afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 41% of a median chemist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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