Expert Chemist salary in Los Angeles, CA
Based on 13 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV 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 | $117,957 |
| 25th | $120,000 |
| 50th (median) | $137,030 |
| 75th | $148,320 |
| 90th | $174,794 |
Cost of living
Los Angeles's median expert Chemist salary of $137,030 is worth about $120,700 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 $137,030, 57% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Glaukos | too few | 4 |
| Eli Lilly and Company | too few | 3 |
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.