Biological Technician Salary in San Francisco, CA
Biological Technicians in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $95,220 a year — 66% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $69,954 take-home, or $5,829 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median biological technician salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$12,118
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,904
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,381
- California income tax$4,626
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,238
- Take-home pay$69,954
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Biological Technician pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $55,090 | $26.49 | $44,374 | $3,698 |
| 25th percentile | $68,140 | $32.76 | $53,642 | $4,470 |
| Median (50th) | $95,220 | $45.78 | $69,954 | $5,829 |
| 75th percentile | $128,440 | $61.75 | $89,670 | $7,472 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $158,680 | $76.29 | $107,133 | $8,928 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $95,220 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median biological technician's $69,954 take-home pay has the buying power of $60,507 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Francisco, CA has 2.5× the national concentration of biological technician jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for biological technicians, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #1 of 3 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $95,220 | $69,954 | $60,507 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $61,610 | $48,823 | $45,096 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $62,780 | $49,831 | $44,269 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 3 metros →
About the job: biological technicians
Assist biological and medical scientists. Set up, operate, and maintain laboratory instruments and equipment, monitor experiments, collect data and samples, make observations, and calculate and record results. May analyze organic substances, such as blood, food, and drugs.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +7.4% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a biological technician make in San Francisco, CA?
The median biological technician salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $95,220 a year, or about $45.78 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $68,140 and $128,440.
What is a biological technician’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $95,220 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $69,954 a year ($5,829 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,864 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a biological technician?
Pay here is 66% above the national median of $57,510. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $60,507 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #1 of 3 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a biological technician afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 45% of a median biological technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Francisco, CA
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists — $160,180
- Biological Scientists, All Other — $138,160
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialist — $126,860