Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician Salary in San Diego, CA
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $63,770 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $50,701 take-home, or $4,225 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median clinical laboratory technologist and technician salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,472
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,954
- Medicare (1.45%)$925
- California income tax$1,889
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$829
- Take-home pay$50,701
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 8.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,130 | $21.70 | $37,061 | $3,088 |
| 25th percentile | $50,660 | $24.36 | $41,138 | $3,428 |
| Median (50th) | $63,770 | $30.66 | $50,701 | $4,225 |
| 75th percentile | $80,640 | $38.77 | $61,242 | $5,103 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $127,710 | $61.40 | $89,248 | $7,437 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $63,770 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 clinical laboratory technologist and technician's $50,701 take-home pay has the buying power of $45,314 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician jobs are about as common in San Diego, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.83).
Best-paying cities for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #28 of 32 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $96,930 | $72,342 | $64,268 |
| 2 | Cleveland, OH | $66,360 | $54,458 | $57,981 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $78,170 | $63,823 | $57,429 |
| 4 | Nashville, TN | $65,060 | $54,456 | $56,526 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $79,480 | $60,990 | $56,334 |
| 6 | Cincinnati, OH | $65,370 | $53,689 | $56,296 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $73,960 | $57,345 | $55,355 |
| 8 | San Francisco, CA | $84,130 | $63,327 | $54,775 |
| 28 | San Diego, CA | $63,770 | $50,701 | $45,314 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 32 metros →
About the job: clinical laboratory technologists and technicians
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.7% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $84,130
- Los Angeles, CA — $67,430
Frequently asked questions
How much does a clinical laboratory technologist and technician make in San Diego, CA?
The median clinical laboratory technologist and technician salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $63,770 a year, or about $30.66 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $50,660 and $80,640.
What is a clinical laboratory technologist and technician’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $63,770 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $50,701 a year ($4,225 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,718 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a clinical laboratory technologist and technician?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $62,930. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $45,314 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #28 of 32 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a clinical laboratory technologist and 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) — 58% of a median clinical laboratory technologist and technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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