Forensic Science Technicians pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $87,410 a year or less, while the top 10% make $176,280 or more. The middle half of forensic science technicians in San Francisco earn between $101,190 and $160,470.
- $87K10th
- $101K25th
- $110KMedian
- $160K75th
- $176K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $127,560 | $10,630 | $61.33 |
| Median | $109,930 | $9,161 | $52.85 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $101,190 | $8,432 | $48.65 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $160,470 | $13,372 | $77.15 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Forensic Science Technicians salary after taxes in San Francisco
On the average salary of $127,560, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $90,682 a year, or $7,557 a month and $3,488 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Francisco a good place for forensic science technicians? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $127,560 buys what about $110,334 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 9.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Forensic Science Technicians salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 2nd of 10 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($132,690).
- San Jose$132,690
- San Francisco$127,560
- Los Angeles$107,010
- Sacramento$105,420
- Oxnard$104,680
- San Diego$104,440
- Fresno$90,100
- Riverside$87,970
- Stockton$80,580
- Bakersfield$77,390
Highest-paying cities for forensic science technicians
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($132,690).
- San Jose, CA$132,690
- San Francisco, CA$127,560
- Los Angeles, CA$107,010
- Chicago, IL$105,710
- Sacramento, CA$105,420
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Forensic Science Technicians salary in San Francisco: questions
How much do forensic science technicians make an hour in San Francisco?
$61.33 an hour on average, and $52.85 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level forensic science technicians salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $87,410 a year and the 25th percentile is $101,190, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the forensic science technicians take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $90,682 a year ($7,557 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $127,560. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do forensic science technicians earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 58% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($80,977).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-4092; area San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.7%.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.15, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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