Chemical Engineers Salary in Los Angeles, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

Median annual salary $122,950 +0.9% vs national
Median hourly $59.11
10th percentile $76,980
90th percentile $186,410
Employed locally 300
National median $121,860

Compare Chemical Engineers salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Los Angeles, CA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Chemical Engineers
in
Los Angeles, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $76,980
    25th
    $90,260
    50th (median)
    $122,950
    75th
    $155,740
    90th
    $186,410

    Los Angeles economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $93,525 2023 • Census ACS
    Chemical Engineers salary vs area income 131% Median Chemical Engineers salary is 31% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Chemical Engineers

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Tulsa, OK $169,250
    Albuquerque, NM $163,380
    Oklahoma $160,990
    Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $152,290
    Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $151,360
    New Mexico $147,290

    Nearby metros — Chemical Engineers salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Bakersfield-Delano, CA $135,820
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $135,610
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $122,190
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $120,300
    Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $119,490
    Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $118,010

    Related occupations in Los Angeles, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Civil Engineers $105,290
    Industrial Engineers $108,300
    Mechanical Engineers $114,290
    Engineers, All Other $122,000
    Electrical Engineers $134,900
    Aerospace Engineers $143,860

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Chemical Engineers make per hour in Los Angeles?

    The median hourly wage for Chemical Engineers in Los Angeles, CA is $59.11, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $97.45 or more per hour.

    Is Los Angeles above or below average for Chemical Engineers salaries?

    The median Chemical Engineers salary in Los Angeles, CA is 0.9% above the national median of $121,860. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Chemical Engineers in Los Angeles?

    Entry-level Chemical Engineers (10th percentile) earn around $76,980 per year in Los Angeles, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $90,260.