Acupuncturist Salary in San Francisco, CA
Acupuncturists in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $62,590 a year — 18% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $49,853 take-home, or $4,154 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median acupuncturist salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,331
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,881
- Medicare (1.45%)$908
- California income tax$1,805
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$814
- Take-home pay$49,853
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Acupuncturist pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,810 | $18.18 | $31,567 | $2,631 |
| 25th percentile | $38,830 | $18.67 | $32,333 | $2,694 |
| Median (50th) | $62,590 | $30.09 | $49,853 | $4,154 |
| 75th percentile | $117,520 | $56.50 | $83,278 | $6,940 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $156,510 | $75.25 | $105,880 | $8,823 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $62,590 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 acupuncturist's $49,853 take-home pay has the buying power of $43,120 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 3.8× the national concentration of acupuncturist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for acupuncturists, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #2 of 2 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $100,550 | $74,675 | $66,340 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $62,590 | $49,853 | $43,120 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 2 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a acupuncturist make in San Francisco, CA?
The median acupuncturist salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $62,590 a year, or about $30.09 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $38,830 and $117,520.
What is a acupuncturist’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $62,590 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $49,853 a year ($4,154 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,619 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a acupuncturist?
Pay here is 18% below the national median of $76,040. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $43,120 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #2 of 2 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a acupuncturist 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) — 63% of a median acupuncturist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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