Chemical Technicians Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$44,070
- 25th Percentile — Junior$49,810
- 50th Percentile — Median$59,510
- 75th Percentile — Senior$73,680
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$88,900
Half of Chemical Technicians in California earn more than $59,510. The top 10% make $88,900 or more, while entry-level workers start around $44,070.
Chemical Technicians in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 16th of 51 states for Chemical Technicians pay, at $64,570 per year (1.0% above the U.S. average of $63,900).
- 6,800 people work as Chemical Technicians in California — 11.8% of all U.S. Chemical Technicians jobs.
- Location quotient 1.01: Chemical Technicians jobs are more concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $44,070; the top 10% earn over $88,900.
- Hourly equivalent: $31.04 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Louisiana at $85,720.
- Among science jobs in California, Physicists pays the most ($201,930).
Chemical Technicians Job Market in California
Key factors affecting compensation
California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Chemical Technicians here earn $64,570 on average, placing the state 16th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $64,570 is roughly equivalent to $45,472 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Colorado ($68,160), Illinois ($65,850), Nevada ($65,150) are the closest alternatives for Chemical Technicians weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Science Jobs in California
Related career salary benchmarks
- Physicists $201,930/yr California +212.7% vs this role
- Materials Scientists $189,460/yr California +193.4% vs this role
- Biochemists and Biophysicists $148,550/yr California +130.1% vs this role
- Medical Scientists $140,120/yr California +117.0% vs this role
- Economists $133,680/yr California +107.0% vs this role
- Atmospheric and Space Scientists $127,330/yr California +97.2% vs this role
- Sociologists $123,090/yr California +90.6% vs this role
- Hydrologists $122,940/yr California +90.4% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Chemical Technicians salary in California?
The average Chemical Technicians salary in California is $64,570 per year (median $59,510), which is 1.0% above the national average of $63,900.
How does California rank for Chemical Technicians pay?
California ranks 16th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Louisiana ($85,720/yr).
How much do entry-level Chemical Technicians make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Chemical Technicians in California earn about $44,070 per year and the 25th percentile is $49,810.
How much do Chemical Technicians make per hour in California?
About $31.04 per hour, based on the $64,570 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Chemical Technicians work in California?
BLS counts 6,800 Chemical Technicians jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
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