Chemist salary in San Diego, CA
Based on 86 certified H-1B filings in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes La Jolla, Carlsbad, Poway, Oceanside, Vista.
Also listed as: Quality Control Chemist, Analytical Chemist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $77,147 |
| 25th | $99,721 |
| 50th (median) | $120,861 |
| 75th | $134,790 |
| 90th | $150,282 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $86,653 | $67,662 | $105,664 | 45 |
| FY2021 | $83,678 | $66,830 | $120,000 | 61 |
| FY2022 | $83,500 | $62,877 | $115,000 | 68 |
| FY2023 | $82,576 | $72,065 | $114,813 | 48 |
| FY2024 | $108,701 | $77,147 | $128,000 | 49 |
| FY2025 | $108,701 | $88,130 | $129,251 | 45 |
| FY2026 | $121,722 | $108,600 | $141,800 | 41 |
Cost of living
San Diego's median Chemist salary of $120,861 is worth about $108,000 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; San Diego = 111.9).
Compared with all workers here
All Chemists in the San Diego, CA area earned a median of $95,160 in May 2025 (1,370 employed). The H-1B median here is $120,861, 27% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Neurocrine Biosciences | too few | 9 |
| Bristol-Myers Squibb Company | too few | 7 |
| The Scripps Research Institute | too few | 6 |
| Eli Lilly and Company | too few | 5 |
| STA Pharmaceutical | too few | 5 |
| Illumina | too few | 4 |
| Catalent Pharma Solutions | too few | 3 |
| Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research | too few | 3 |
| University Of California, San Diego | too few | 3 |
| Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated | 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 | $76,918 | 13 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $98,800 | 13 |
| Senior · Level III | $108,701 | 20 |
| Expert · Level IV | $130,000 | 37 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $67,579 | $76,918 | 13 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $88,130 | $98,800 | 13 |
| Senior · Level III | $108,701 | $108,701 | 20 |
| Expert · Level IV | $121,722 | $130,000 | 37 |
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.