Broadcast Technician Salary in San Francisco, CA
Broadcast Technicians in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $77,790 a year — 31% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $59,533 take-home, or $4,961 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median broadcast technician salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,284
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,823
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,128
- California income tax$3,011
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,011
- Take-home pay$59,533
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.00% state
Broadcast Technician pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,450 | $21.37 | $36,550 | $3,046 |
| 25th percentile | $60,890 | $29.27 | $48,611 | $4,051 |
| Median (50th) | $77,790 | $37.40 | $59,533 | $4,961 |
| 75th percentile | $114,710 | $55.15 | $81,599 | $6,800 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $164,800 | $79.23 | $110,668 | $9,222 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $77,790 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 broadcast technician's $59,533 take-home pay has the buying power of $51,493 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 1.7× the national concentration of broadcast technician jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for broadcast technicians, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #8 of 8 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia, PA | $103,180 | $78,250 | $76,301 |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | $96,060 | $71,798 | $69,306 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $96,820 | $72,271 | $64,205 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $78,050 | $61,012 | $57,677 |
| 5 | Miami, FL | $74,490 | $61,234 | $53,641 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $75,010 | $58,170 | $53,424 |
| 7 | Dallas, TX | $63,500 | $53,202 | $51,608 |
| 8 | San Francisco, CA | $77,790 | $59,533 | $51,493 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 8 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a broadcast technician make in San Francisco, CA?
The median broadcast technician salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $77,790 a year, or about $37.40 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $60,890 and $114,710.
What is a broadcast technician’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $77,790 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $59,533 a year ($4,961 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,022 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a broadcast technician?
Pay here is 31% above the national median of $59,570. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $51,493 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #8 of 8 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a broadcast 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) — 53% of a median broadcast technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Francisco, CA
- Art Director — $165,210
- Special Effects Artist and Animator — $136,770
- Technical Writer — $135,470
- Producer and Director — $130,640
- Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators — $126,470
- Film and Video Editor — $109,930
- Commercial and Industrial Designer — $104,000
- Editor — $102,940
- Public Relations Specialist — $102,520
- Fashion Designer — $102,370
- Sound Engineering Technician — $94,990
- Graphic Designer — $92,050