Biological Technician Salary in San Jose, CA
Biological Technicians in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median $72,940 a year — 27% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $56,572 take-home, or $4,714 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median biological technician salary in San Jose, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,217
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,522
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,058
- California income tax$2,623
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$948
- Take-home pay$56,572
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.00% state
Biological Technician pay by experience in San Jose, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $54,320 | $26.12 | $43,811 | $3,651 |
| 25th percentile | $58,270 | $28.01 | $46,697 | $3,891 |
| Median (50th) | $72,940 | $35.07 | $56,572 | $4,714 |
| 75th percentile | $94,430 | $45.40 | $69,482 | $5,790 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $113,930 | $54.77 | $81,133 | $6,761 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $72,940 buys in San Jose, CA
Prices in San Jose, CA are 10.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median biological technician's $56,572 take-home pay has the buying power of $51,232 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 Jose, CA has 1.6× 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 Jose, CA ranks #4 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 Francisco, CA — $95,220
- 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 Jose, CA?
The median biological technician salary in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $72,940 a year, or about $35.07 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $58,270 and $94,430.
What is a biological technician’s take-home pay in San Jose, CA?
On the median $72,940 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $56,572 a year ($4,714 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,571 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Jose, CA a good place to work as a biological technician?
Pay here is 27% above the national median of $57,510. Local prices are 10.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $51,232 would in a typical U.S. city. San Jose, CA ranks #4 of 29 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a biological technician afford rent in San Jose, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Jose, CA is $2,957 a month ($3,464 for two bedrooms) — 63% of a median biological technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Jose, CA
- Physicist — $173,450
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists — $159,300
- Biological Scientists, All Other — $133,790
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialist — $128,980
- Chemist — $114,890
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologist — $102,710
- Chemical Technician — $67,140