Expert Chemical Engineer salary in Los Angeles, CA
Based on 10 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Pasadena, Irvine, Huntington Beach, Carson, Santa Monica.
Also listed as: Process Engineer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $141,710 |
| 25th | $154,315 |
| 50th (median) | $176,716 |
| 75th | $199,608 |
| 90th | $255,848 |
Cost of living
Los Angeles's median expert Chemical Engineer salary of $176,716 is worth about $155,600 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Los Angeles = 113.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Chemical Engineers in the Los Angeles, CA area earned a median of $134,210 in May 2025 (320 employed). The H-1B median here is $176,716, 32% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Fluor Enterprises | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | – | 0 |
| Mid-level · Level II | too few | 2 |
| Senior · Level III | – | 0 |
| Expert · Level IV | $176,716 | 10 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expert · Level IV | $154,315 | $176,716 | 10 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.