Chemist Salary in San Francisco, CA
Chemists in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $127,790 a year — 40% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $89,294 take-home, or $7,441 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median chemist salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$19,404
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,923
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,853
- California income tax$7,655
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,661
- Take-home pay$89,294
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Chemist pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $76,110 | $36.59 | $58,507 | $4,876 |
| 25th percentile | $96,100 | $46.20 | $70,479 | $5,873 |
| Median (50th) | $127,790 | $61.44 | $89,294 | $7,441 |
| 75th percentile | $160,810 | $77.31 | $108,363 | $9,030 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $194,730 | $93.62 | $128,586 | $10,716 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $127,790 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median chemist's $89,294 take-home pay has the buying power of $77,236 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 Francisco, 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 Francisco, CA ranks #6 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 |
*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 Jose, CA — $114,890
- Riverside, CA — $92,660
- San Diego, CA — $95,160
- Los Angeles, CA — $87,060
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chemist make in San Francisco, CA?
The median chemist salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $127,790 a year, or about $61.44 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $96,100 and $160,810.
What is a chemist’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $127,790 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $89,294 a year ($7,441 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $9,316 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a chemist?
Pay here is 40% above the national median of $91,240. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $77,236 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #6 of 35 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chemist afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 35% of a median chemist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Francisco, CA
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologist — $166,400
- Biochemist and Biophysicist — $165,050
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists — $160,180
- Biological Scientists, All Other — $138,160
- Urban and Regional Planner — $136,250
- School Psychologist — $130,540
- Microbiologist — $130,070
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health — $127,210
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialist — $126,860
- Biological Technician — $95,220
- Social Science Research Assistant — $82,020
- Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health — $80,840