Mid-level Chemist salary in San Francisco, CA
Based on 43 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level II 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 | $101,546 |
| 25th | $104,915 |
| 50th (median) | $110,753 |
| 75th | $118,633 |
| 90th | $138,160 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $86,237 | $86,237 | $87,000 | 17 |
| FY2021 | $82,277 | $72,212 | $94,561 | 24 |
| FY2022 | $84,282 | $78,146 | $100,500 | 39 |
| FY2023 | $84,750 | $84,282 | $101,281 | 20 |
| FY2024 | $104,915 | $96,448 | $110,719 | 18 |
| FY2025 | $115,000 | $104,915 | $123,500 | 27 |
| FY2026 | $107,877 | $101,546 | $116,688 | 16 |
Cost of living
San Francisco's median mid-level Chemist salary of $110,753 is worth about $95,800 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 $110,753, 13% lower.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Allure Labs | $115,000 | 11 |
| Gilead Sciences | too few | 6 |
| Issam Tina Solutions | too few | 4 |
| Amgen | too few | 2 |
| Frontage Laboratories | too few | 2 |
| Meadowhawk Biolabs | 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.