Chemist Salary in San Diego, CA
Chemists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $95,160 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $69,918 take-home, or $5,826 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median chemist salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$12,105
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,900
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,380
- California income tax$4,620
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,237
- Take-home pay$69,918
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Chemist pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,500 | $29.57 | $49,056 | $4,088 |
| 25th percentile | $72,550 | $34.88 | $56,334 | $4,694 |
| Median (50th) | $95,160 | $45.75 | $69,918 | $5,826 |
| 75th percentile | $127,980 | $61.53 | $89,404 | $7,450 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $158,650 | $76.27 | $107,116 | $8,926 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $95,160 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median chemist's $69,918 take-home pay has the buying power of $62,490 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Diego, CA has 1.7× the national concentration of chemist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for chemists, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #28 of 35 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 | Baltimore, MD | $118,880 | $87,148 | $83,406 |
| 5 | Cincinnati, OH | $96,170 | $74,623 | $78,246 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $127,790 | $89,294 | $77,236 |
| 7 | Columbus, OH | $94,170 | $73,271 | $76,749 |
| 8 | Boulder, CO | $105,590 | $79,175 | $75,260 |
| 28 | San Diego, CA | $95,160 | $69,918 | $62,490 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 35 metros →
Chemist salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $127,790
- San Jose, CA — $114,890
- Riverside, CA — $92,660
- Los Angeles, CA — $87,060
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chemist make in San Diego, CA?
The median chemist salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $95,160 a year, or about $45.75 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $72,550 and $127,980.
What is a chemist’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $95,160 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $69,918 a year ($5,826 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,857 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a chemist?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $91,240. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $62,490 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #28 of 35 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chemist afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 42% of a median chemist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- School Psychologist — $131,070
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists — $130,980
- Biochemist and Biophysicist — $121,740
- Biological Scientists, All Other — $108,350
- Urban and Regional Planner — $107,710
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health — $106,100
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialist — $101,230
- Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other — $94,110
- Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other — $75,970
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologist — $72,090
- Biological Technician — $67,060
- Social Science Research Assistant — $66,520