Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician Salary in San Francisco, CA
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $84,130 a year — 34% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $63,327 take-home, or $5,277 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median clinical laboratory technologist and technician salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,679
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,216
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,220
- California income tax$3,595
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,094
- Take-home pay$63,327
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% 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 Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $55,570 | $26.72 | $44,724 | $3,727 |
| 25th percentile | $67,810 | $32.60 | $53,440 | $4,453 |
| Median (50th) | $84,130 | $40.45 | $63,327 | $5,277 |
| 75th percentile | $96,820 | $46.55 | $70,910 | $5,909 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $133,660 | $64.26 | $92,684 | $7,724 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $84,130 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 clinical laboratory technologist and technician's $63,327 take-home pay has the buying power of $54,775 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 Francisco, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.03).
Best-paying cities for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #8 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 |
*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
- Los Angeles, CA — $67,430
- San Diego, CA — $63,770
Frequently asked questions
How much does a clinical laboratory technologist and technician make in San Francisco, CA?
The median clinical laboratory technologist and technician salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $84,130 a year, or about $40.45 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $67,810 and $96,820.
What is a clinical laboratory technologist and technician’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $84,130 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $63,327 a year ($5,277 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,688 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a clinical laboratory technologist and technician?
Pay here is 34% above the national median of $62,930. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $54,775 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #8 of 32 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a clinical laboratory technologist and 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) — 50% of a median clinical laboratory technologist and technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Francisco, CA
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Nurse Practitioner — $219,080
- Registered Nurse — $186,610
- Pharmacist — $177,410
- Dental Hygienist — $146,760
- Physical Therapist — $141,980
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $141,780
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $94,310
- Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other — $71,360
- Pharmacy Technician — $60,550
- Emergency Medical Technician — $51,480