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
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 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 |
*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 Jose, CA — $72,940
- Sacramento, CA — $64,410
- San Diego, CA — $67,060
- Los Angeles, CA — $66,610
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 29 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
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologist — $166,400
- Biochemist and Biophysicist — $165,050
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists — $160,180
- Biological Scientists, All Other — $138,160
- Urban and Regional Planner — $136,250
- School Psychologist — $130,540
- Microbiologist — $130,070
- Chemist — $127,790
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health — $127,210
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialist — $126,860
- Social Science Research Assistant — $82,020
- Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health — $80,840