Expert Chemist salary in San Francisco, CA
Based on 40 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes South San Francisco, Berkeley, Hayward, Foster City, Menlo Park.
Also listed as: Quality Control Chemist, Analytical Chemist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $148,117 |
| 25th | $152,106 |
| 50th (median) | $152,984 |
| 75th | $159,520 |
| 90th | $180,041 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $130,562 | $130,562 | $135,097 | 14 |
| FY2021 | $130,000 | $121,623 | $144,000 | 17 |
| FY2022 | $134,000 | $123,614 | $144,650 | 31 |
| FY2023 | $125,000 | $119,517 | $135,410 | 32 |
| FY2024 | $140,800 | $138,362 | $145,000 | 17 |
| FY2025 | $152,984 | $152,984 | $155,500 | 20 |
| FY2026 | $151,913 | $149,529 | $159,520 | 20 |
Cost of living
San Francisco's median expert Chemist salary of $152,984 is worth about $132,300 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; San Francisco = 115.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Chemists in the San Francisco, CA area earned a median of $127,790 in May 2025 (2,180 employed). The H-1B median here is $152,984, 20% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Gilead Sciences | $152,984 | 11 |
| Genentech | too few | 4 |
| Amgen | too few | 2 |
| Arcus Biosciences | too few | 2 |
| ZymoChem | 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 | $81,635 | 28 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $110,753 | 43 |
| Senior · Level III | $141,500 | 41 |
| Expert · Level IV | $152,984 | 40 |
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 | $80,870 | $81,635 | 28 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $104,915 | $110,753 | 43 |
| Senior · Level III | $124,842 | $141,500 | 41 |
| Expert · Level IV | $148,117 | $152,984 | 40 |
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.