Expert Chemist salary in San Diego, CA
Based on 37 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV 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 | $121,722 |
| 25th | $122,400 |
| 50th (median) | $130,000 |
| 75th | $148,959 |
| 90th | $160,111 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $115,003 | $105,664 | $120,000 | 13 |
| FY2021 | $125,000 | $108,444 | $155,000 | 22 |
| FY2022 | $127,500 | $116,250 | $140,401 | 18 |
| FY2023 | $125,355 | $115,000 | $160,000 | 12 |
| FY2024 | $131,902 | $122,000 | $150,000 | 17 |
| FY2025 | $130,000 | $129,251 | $156,900 | 13 |
| FY2026 | $129,580 | $121,722 | $145,000 | 24 |
Cost of living
San Diego's median expert Chemist salary of $130,000 is worth about $116,200 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 $130,000, 37% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bristol-Myers Squibb Company | too few | 3 |
| Catalent Pharma Solutions | too few | 3 |
| Eli Lilly and Company | too few | 3 |
| STA Pharmaceutical | too few | 3 |
| Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated | too few | 3 |
| Avery Bio | too few | 2 |
| Genentech | too few | 2 |
| GenMark Diagnostics | too few | 2 |
| Janssen Research & Development | too few | 2 |
| Neurocrine Biosciences | 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 | $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.