Salary guide, May 2025
Formulation Chemist pay in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
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The median annual wage for Chemists in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA was $114,890 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $91,010 and $150,630.
The San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA median is $23,650 above the national median of $91,240, both from BLS May 2025.
Broader occupation · SOC 19-2031 Chemists
BLS measures this broader occupation across industries. It does not publish a separate wage for this manufacturing title.
What should you know about san Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $75,990 | $91,010 | $114,890 | $150,630 | $184,590 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $36.54 | $43.76 | $55.24 | $72.42 | $88.75 |
BLS estimated 580 workers employed in this occupation in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA. Location quotient: 0.96.
What should you know about united States?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $58,460 | $69,460 | $91,240 | $125,550 | $160,830 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $28.11 | $33.39 | $43.87 | $60.36 | $77.32 |
What should you know about role pay against all occupations here?
The published Formulation Chemist median is $114,890. The all-occupations median in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA is $84,050. Ratio: 1.37 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 0.96 measures how concentrated this occupation's employment is here against the nation. It is not a wage index.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $87,190 | $109,960 | $149,280 |
| May 2025 | $91,010 | $114,890 | $150,630 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 19-2031 Chemists, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 19-2031 Chemists, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
What should you know about nearby areas?
| Area | Median | 25th to 75th |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $95,840 | $69,600 to $118,160 |
| Salinas, CA | $95,080 | $80,580 to $138,220 |
All roles in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA · National page · Formulation Chemist ranked across metros