Chemists pay range in San Luis Obispo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $57,530 a year or less, while the top 10% make $127,970 or more. The middle half of chemists in San Luis Obispo earn between $68,140 and $118,890.
- $58K10th
- $68K25th
- $86KMedian
- $119K75th
- $128K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $91,820 | $7,652 | $44.14 |
| Median | $86,060 | $7,172 | $41.38 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $68,140 | $5,678 | $32.76 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $118,890 | $9,908 | $57.16 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chemists pay in San Luis Obispo vs. California and the U.S.
Chemists in San Luis Obispo earn 14% less than the California average ($106,810) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($100,450). At the median the gap is -6% against the U.S. median of $91,240.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Luis Obispo | $91,820 | $86,060 | $57,530 | $127,970 | 40 |
| California | $106,810 | $97,860 | $60,930 | $164,150 | 9,820 |
| United States | $100,450 | $91,240 | $58,460 | $160,830 | 82,770 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chemists salary after taxes in San Luis Obispo
On the average salary of $91,820, a single filer in San Luis Obispo takes home about $68,978 a year, or $5,748 a month and $2,653 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% 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 San Luis Obispo a good place for chemists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Luis Obispo area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.6), so the average $91,820 buys what about $84,552 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in San Luis Obispo ($50,770). A typical home costs $909,699, or 9.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Chemists salary in other California cities
San Luis Obispo ranks 15th of 19 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($130,870).
- San Francisco$130,870
- San Jose$121,350
- Bakersfield$105,620
- Salinas$104,930
- San Diego$101,250
- Napa$100,740
- Santa Rosa$100,440
- Los Angeles$99,150
- Santa Cruz$97,460
- San Luis Obispo$91,820
Highest-paying cities for chemists
Washington, DC pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($144,550).
- Washington, DC$144,550
- Bay City, MI$139,910
- Lexington Park, MD$132,480
- San Francisco, CA$130,870
- Boston, MA$130,520
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Chemists salary in San Luis Obispo: questions
How much do chemists make an hour in San Luis Obispo?
$44.14 an hour on average, and $41.37 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chemists salary in San Luis Obispo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $57,530 a year and the 25th percentile is $68,140, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chemists take-home pay in San Luis Obispo?
About $68,978 a year ($5,748 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $91,820. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do chemists earn more in San Luis Obispo than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% less than the U.S. average for this job ($100,450).
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 19-2031; area San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA (42020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.7%.
- 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.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.57, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.57).
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