Chemical Engineers pay range in Riverside
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $88,960 a year or less, while the top 10% make $142,660 or more. The middle half of chemical engineers in Riverside earn between $98,990 and $131,230.
- $89K10th
- $99K25th
- $106KMedian
- $131K75th
- $143K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $116,630 | $9,719 | $56.07 |
| Median | $106,200 | $8,850 | $51.06 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $98,990 | $8,249 | $47.59 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $131,230 | $10,936 | $63.09 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chemical Engineers pay in Riverside vs. California and the U.S.
Chemical engineers in Riverside earn 10% less than the U.S. average ($129,980). At the median the gap is -15% against the U.S. median of $125,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside | $116,630 | $106,200 | $88,960 | $142,660 | n/a |
| United States | $129,980 | $125,040 | $79,420 | $182,880 | 21,070 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chemical Engineers salary after taxes in Riverside
On the average salary of $116,630, a single filer in Riverside takes home about $84,125 a year, or $7,010 a month and $3,236 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Riverside a good place for chemical engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Riverside area are 6% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 106.4), so the average $116,630 buys what about $109,571 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Riverside ($48,400). A typical home costs $585,378, or 5.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Chemical Engineers salary in other California cities
Riverside ranks 2nd of 2 California metro areas for this job; Los Angeles pays the most ($142,640).
- Los Angeles$142,640
- Riverside$116,630
Highest-paying cities for chemical engineers
Houston, TX pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($155,750).
- Houston, TX$155,750
- Austin, TX$149,140
- Dallas, TX$147,410
- Lake Charles, LA$144,900
- Trenton, NJ$144,720
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Chemical Engineers salary in Riverside: questions
How much do chemical engineers make an hour in Riverside?
$56.07 an hour on average, and $51.06 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chemical engineers salary in Riverside?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $88,960 a year and the 25th percentile is $98,990, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chemical engineers take-home pay in Riverside?
About $84,125 a year ($7,010 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $116,630. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do chemical engineers earn more in Riverside than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% less than the U.S. average for this job ($129,980).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-2041; area Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA (40140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 20.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
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