Chemical Technician Salary in San Francisco, CA
Chemical Technicians in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $71,470 a year — 18% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $55,675 take-home, or $4,640 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median chemical technician salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$6,893
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,431
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,036
- California income tax$2,505
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$929
- Take-home pay$55,675
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.00% state
Chemical Technician pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,090 | $23.60 | $39,991 | $3,333 |
| 25th percentile | $57,820 | $27.80 | $46,368 | $3,864 |
| Median (50th) | $71,470 | $34.36 | $55,675 | $4,640 |
| 75th percentile | $91,730 | $44.10 | $67,868 | $5,656 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $115,490 | $55.52 | $82,065 | $6,839 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $71,470 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 chemical technician's $55,675 take-home pay has the buying power of $48,156 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chemical Technician jobs are about as common in San Francisco, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.18).
Best-paying cities for chemical technicians, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #10 of 21 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston, TX | $65,050 | $54,448 | $55,205 |
| 2 | Cleveland, OH | $62,080 | $51,136 | $54,445 |
| 3 | Cincinnati, OH | $61,760 | $50,888 | $53,359 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $66,940 | $53,867 | $52,526 |
| 5 | Indianapolis, IN | $62,020 | $50,213 | $52,471 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $62,990 | $52,792 | $51,210 |
| 7 | Charlotte, NC | $61,730 | $49,826 | $51,183 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $67,850 | $53,390 | $49,314 |
| 10 | San Francisco, CA | $71,470 | $55,675 | $48,156 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 21 metros →
Chemical Technician salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $67,140
- San Diego, CA — $57,270
- Los Angeles, CA — $58,070
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chemical technician make in San Francisco, CA?
The median chemical technician salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $71,470 a year, or about $34.36 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $57,820 and $91,730.
What is a chemical technician’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $71,470 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $55,675 a year ($4,640 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,435 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a chemical technician?
Pay here is 18% above the national median of $60,390. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $48,156 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #10 of 21 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chemical 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) — 56% of a median chemical 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
- Biological Technician — $95,220
- Social Science Research Assistant — $82,020