Chemical Technicians Salary in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Chemical Technicians in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA make a median of $68,000 a year, or about $32.69 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $107K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 115.61), so that salary is closer to $58,818 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $3,604/month — about 81.2% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $68K get you in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont’s Regional Price Parity (115.61). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About chemical technicians
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Entry-level chemical technicians (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $68K. Top earners bring in $107K or more, a $60K spread from bottom to top.
Chemical Technicians pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | $83K | +44% | 950 |
| Delaware | $65K | +12% | 600 |
| Massachusetts | $65K | +12% | 2,200 |
| Texas | $65K | +12% | 6,510 |
| Oklahoma | $64K | +11% | 770 |
| West Virginia | $64K | +10% | 240 |
| Arizona | $63K | +9% | 470 |
| New Mexico | $63K | +8% | 100 |
| Illinois | $62K | +7% | 1,410 |
| Alaska | $61K | +6% | 150 |
| Vermont | $61K | +5% | 140 |
| South Carolina | $60K | +3% | 1,300 |
| Nebraska | $59K | +2% | 330 |
| Pennsylvania | $59K | +2% | 3,050 |
| Missouri | $59K | +2% | 700 |
| New York | $58K | -0% | 2,350 |
| Michigan | $58K | -0% | 2,300 |
| New Jersey | $58K | -0% | 3,210 |
| Wisconsin | $57K | -1% | 970 |
| California | $57K | -2% | 6,480 |
| Washington | $56K | -3% | 880 |
| Kansas | $55K | -4% | 290 |
| Idaho | $55K | -5% | 140 |
| Kentucky | $55K | -5% | 540 |
| Ohio | $55K | -5% | 2,500 |
| Minnesota | $54K | -6% | 730 |
| Mississippi | $54K | -6% | 330 |
| North Dakota | $53K | -8% | 90 |
| Utah | $53K | -8% | 760 |
| Alabama | $53K | -9% | 1,180 |
| Wyoming | $53K | -9% | 240 |
| Iowa | $52K | -10% | 430 |
| Indiana | $52K | -10% | 1,410 |
| Georgia | $52K | -10% | 820 |
| Tennessee | $51K | -12% | 1,740 |
| Connecticut | $51K | -12% | 470 |
| Virginia | $51K | -12% | 1,070 |
| Nevada | $50K | -13% | 870 |
| Montana | $50K | -13% | 200 |
| Oregon | $50K | -14% | 370 |
| Rhode Island | $50K | -14% | 170 |
| North Carolina | $49K | -15% | 1,360 |
| District of Columbia | $49K | -16% | 40 |
| South Dakota | $48K | -17% | 90 |
| Maryland | $48K | -17% | 930 |
| Maine | $47K | -18% | 50 |
| New Hampshire | $47K | -18% | 160 |
| Florida | $47K | -19% | 1,960 |
| Arkansas | $47K | -19% | 450 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track chemical technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do chemical technicians make in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The median is $68,000 a year, that works out to about $33 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,070, and experienced chemical technicians can clear $107,270. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $68K enough to live in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,474/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,604/month, which eats 80.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a chemical technicians salary go in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont has a Regional Price Parity of 115.61 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median chemical technicians salary is worth about $58,818 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do chemical technicians get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.