Chemist salary in Los Angeles, CA
Based on 55 certified H-1B filings in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Irvine, Pasadena, Covina, Aliso Viejo, Monrovia.
Also listed as: Quality Control Chemist, Analytical Chemist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $65,706 |
| 25th | $79,744 |
| 50th (median) | $99,133 |
| 75th | $133,365 |
| 90th | $174,589 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $72,800 | $59,580 | $89,170 | 37 |
| FY2021 | $63,036 | $58,240 | $83,450 | 51 |
| FY2022 | $65,200 | $60,000 | $79,997 | 35 |
| FY2023 | $75,000 | $64,725 | $92,750 | 44 |
| FY2024 | $92,000 | $74,569 | $110,000 | 21 |
| FY2025 | $93,146 | $75,941 | $118,666 | 30 |
| FY2026 | $116,699 | $84,000 | $137,030 | 25 |
Cost of living
Los Angeles's median Chemist salary of $99,133 is worth about $87,300 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Los Angeles = 113.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Chemists in the Los Angeles, CA area earned a median of $87,060 in May 2025 (3,190 employed). The H-1B median here is $99,133, 14% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Eli Lilly and Company | too few | 5 |
| California Institute of Technology | too few | 4 |
| Glaukos | too few | 4 |
| Power Environmental Energy Research Institute | too few | 4 |
| Advanced Technology Laboratories | too few | 2 |
| Bioduro | too few | 2 |
| Excelsior Nutrition | too few | 2 |
| Novi Connect | too few | 2 |
| Terray Therapeutics | too few | 2 |
| The University of Southern California | 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 | too few | 5 |
| Mid-level · Level II | too few | 4 |
| Senior · Level III | $100,000 | 15 |
| Expert · Level IV | $137,030 | 13 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior · Level III | $93,142 | $100,000 | 15 |
| Expert · Level IV | $117,957 | $137,030 | 13 |
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.