Laboratory Chemist Salary in Trabuco Canyon, CA

How much does a Laboratory Chemist make in Trabuco Canyon, CA?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Laboratory Chemist in Trabuco Canyon, CA is $102,212 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $49.

However, a Laboratory Chemist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $122,255
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $91,898 to $112,703
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $82,508
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View as table View as graph 25% $91,898 10% $82,508 90% $122,255 75% $112,703 $102,212 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Laboratory Chemist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $112,703 $9,392 $2,167 $54
Average $102,212 $8,518 $1,966 $49
25th Percentile $91,898 $7,658 $1,767 $44
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Key Factors That Influence Laboratory Chemist Salaries

A Laboratory Chemist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, skills and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Laboratory Chemist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Laboratory Chemist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here’s how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $68,486
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $84,932
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $102,928
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $134,982
  • Expert (over 8 years): $157,626
Levels Salary
Chemist I... Level Laboratory Chemist$68,486
Chemist I... Level Laboratory Chemist$84,932
Laborator... Level Laboratory Chemist$102,928
Chemist I... Level Laboratory Chemist$134,982
Chemist V... Level Laboratory Chemist$157,626
$68,486 0 yr
$84,932 < 2 yrs
$102,928 2-4 yrs
$134,982 5-8 yrs
$157,626 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Laboratory Chemists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $120,033
  • San Francisco: $118,719
  • Oakland: $116,217

What Skills Can Increase a Laboratory Chemist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 12.68% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Analytical Chemistry (Mentioned in 2.31% Job Postings): Analytical chemistry studies and uses instruments and methods used to separate, identify, and quantify matter. In practice, separation, identification or quantification may constitute the entire analysis or be combined with another method. Separation isolates analytes. Qualitative analysis identifies analytes, while quantitative analysis determines the numerical amount or concentration. Analytical chemistry consists of classical, wet chemical methods and modern, instrumental methods. Classical qualitative methods use separations such as precipitation, extraction, and distillation. Identification may be based on differences in color, odor, melting point, boiling point, radioactivity or reactivity. Classical quantitative analysis uses mass or volume changes to quantify amount. Instrumental methods may be used to separate samples using chromatography, electrophoresis or field flow fractionation. Then qualitative and quantitative analysis can be performed, often with the same instrument and may use light interaction, heat interaction, electric fields or magnetic fields. Often the same instrument can separate, identify and quantify an analyte.
  • Laboratory Equipment (Mentioned in 1.51% Job Postings): Utilizing various tools and equipment to conduct scientific researches, teach practical science, or perform laboratory experiments.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 12.68%
Analytical Chemistry 2.31%
Laboratory Equipment 1.51%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Laboratory Chemist's salary.
  • Clinical Diagnostic: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Authenticity: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Clinical Diagnostic
$111,411
9%
Authenticity
$110,389
8%
Collaboration
$108,345
6%
Forensics
$106,300
4%
Decision Making
$106,300
4%
Project Management
$106,300
4%
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Laboratory Chemist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Laboratory Chemist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 42% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Laboratory Chemist positions in Transportation or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Laboratory Chemist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Laboratory Chemist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$122,654$59.020%
Energy & Utilities$117,544$57.015%
Aerospace & Defense$114,477$55.012%
MFG Durable$112,433$54.010%
Chemicals$110,389$53.08%

Laboratory Chemist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Laboratory Chemist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026

Find Your Next Laboratory Chemist Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Laboratory Chemist job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • Quest Diagnostics

    Trabuco Canyon, CA

    Quest Diagnostics | Trabuco Canyon, CA

    Specimen Technician II. This position in Specimen Processing is responsible for knowing all of the functions of the SPT I, plus additional functions. This ... more

    4 Days Ago

  • Jack In The Box

    Trabuco Canyon, CA

    Jack In The Box | Trabuco Canyon, CA

    Jack In The Box - 21602 Plano Trabuco Rd - Responsibilities: Oversee daily restaurant operations and staff scheduling more

    4 Days Ago

  • Jack In The Box

    Trabuco Canyon, CA

    Jack In The Box | Trabuco Canyon, CA

    Jack In The Box - 21602 Plano Trabuco Road - Responsibilities: Assist customers, take orders, and prepare food in a fast-food environment more

    4 Days Ago

  • Quest Diagnostics

    Trabuco Canyon, CA

    Quest Diagnostics | Trabuco Canyon, CA

    Specimen Processing Group Lead. San Juan Capistrano, CA, Monday to Friday, 4:00 AM to 12:30 PM. Pay range: $26.04 - $27.41 / hour. employee may be eligible... more

    5 Days Ago

  • Quest Diagnostics

    Trabuco Canyon, CA

    Quest Diagnostics | Trabuco Canyon, CA

    Job Description. Pay Range: $300,000 - $365,000 / year. Salary offers are based on a wide range of factors including relevant skills, training, experience,... more

    5 Days Ago

  • Quest Diagnostics

    Trabuco Canyon, CA

    Quest Diagnostics | Trabuco Canyon, CA

    Client Lab Coordinator - Oncology I. Location: San Juan Capistrano, CA, Sunday to Thursday, 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM. Pay range: $27.18 - $35.00 / hour. Salary o... more

    6 Days Ago

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