Biological Technician Salary in San Diego, CA
Biological Technicians in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $67,060 a year — 17% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $52,982 take-home, or $4,415 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median biological technician salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,923
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,158
- Medicare (1.45%)$972
- California income tax$2,153
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$872
- Take-home pay$52,982
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.00% state
Biological Technician pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,990 | $23.07 | $39,187 | $3,266 |
| 25th percentile | $58,810 | $28.27 | $47,091 | $3,924 |
| Median (50th) | $67,060 | $32.24 | $52,982 | $4,415 |
| 75th percentile | $78,730 | $37.85 | $60,101 | $5,008 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $95,180 | $45.76 | $69,930 | $5,827 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $67,060 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median biological technician's $52,982 take-home pay has the buying power of $47,353 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 Diego, CA has 2.6× 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 Diego, CA ranks #13 of 29 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 | Worcester, MA | $69,730 | $54,619 | $53,274 |
| 3 | Richmond, VA | $65,210 | $51,641 | $52,771 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $72,940 | $56,572 | $51,232 |
| 5 | Indianapolis, IN | $59,550 | $48,301 | $50,474 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $65,140 | $52,362 | $49,500 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $61,280 | $50,095 | $48,487 |
| 8 | Durham, NC | $58,400 | $47,283 | $48,460 |
| 13 | San Diego, CA | $67,060 | $52,982 | $47,353 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 29 metros →
Biological Technician salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $95,220
- San Jose, CA — $72,940
- Sacramento, CA — $64,410
- Los Angeles, CA — $66,610
Frequently asked questions
How much does a biological technician make in San Diego, CA?
The median biological technician salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $67,060 a year, or about $32.24 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $58,810 and $78,730.
What is a biological technician’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $67,060 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $52,982 a year ($4,415 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,024 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a biological technician?
Pay here is 17% above the national median of $57,510. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $47,353 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #13 of 29 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a biological technician afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 56% of a median biological technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- School Psychologist — $131,070
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists — $130,980
- Biochemist and Biophysicist — $121,740
- Biological Scientists, All Other — $108,350
- Urban and Regional Planner — $107,710
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health — $106,100
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialist — $101,230
- Chemist — $95,160
- Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other — $94,110
- Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other — $75,970
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologist — $72,090
- Social Science Research Assistant — $66,520