Chemical Technician Salary in San Jose, CA
Chemical Technicians in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median $67,140 a year — 11% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $53,031 take-home, or $4,419 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median chemical technician salary in San Jose, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,941
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,163
- Medicare (1.45%)$974
- California income tax$2,159
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$873
- Take-home pay$53,031
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.00% state
Chemical Technician pay by experience in San Jose, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,960 | $23.54 | $39,896 | $3,325 |
| 25th percentile | $57,370 | $27.58 | $46,039 | $3,837 |
| Median (50th) | $67,140 | $32.28 | $53,031 | $4,419 |
| 75th percentile | $78,520 | $37.75 | $59,975 | $4,998 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $95,270 | $45.80 | $69,983 | $5,832 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $67,140 buys in San Jose, CA
Prices in San Jose, CA are 10.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median chemical technician's $53,031 take-home pay has the buying power of $48,025 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chemical Technician jobs are about as common in San Jose, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.11).
Best-paying cities for chemical technicians, adjusted for cost of living
San Jose, CA ranks #11 of 21 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston, TX | $65,050 | $54,448 | $55,205 |
| 2 | Cleveland, OH | $62,080 | $51,136 | $54,445 |
| 3 | Cincinnati, OH | $61,760 | $50,888 | $53,359 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $66,940 | $53,867 | $52,526 |
| 5 | Indianapolis, IN | $62,020 | $50,213 | $52,471 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $62,990 | $52,792 | $51,210 |
| 7 | Charlotte, NC | $61,730 | $49,826 | $51,183 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $67,850 | $53,390 | $49,314 |
| 11 | San Jose, CA | $67,140 | $53,031 | $48,025 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 21 metros →
Chemical Technician salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $71,470
- San Diego, CA — $57,270
- Los Angeles, CA — $58,070
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chemical technician make in San Jose, CA?
The median chemical technician salary in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $67,140 a year, or about $32.28 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $57,370 and $78,520.
What is a chemical technician’s take-home pay in San Jose, CA?
On the median $67,140 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $53,031 a year ($4,419 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,032 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Jose, CA a good place to work as a chemical technician?
Pay here is 11% above the national median of $60,390. Local prices are 10.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $48,025 would in a typical U.S. city. San Jose, CA ranks #11 of 21 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chemical technician afford rent in San Jose, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Jose, CA is $2,957 a month ($3,464 for two bedrooms) — 67% of a median chemical technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Jose, CA
- Physicist — $173,450
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists — $159,300
- Biological Scientists, All Other — $133,790
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialist — $128,980
- Chemist — $114,890
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologist — $102,710
- Biological Technician — $72,940