Life Scientists, All Other pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,960 a year or less, while the top 10% make $154,900 or more. The middle half of other life scientists in San Diego earn between $67,960 and $111,140.
- $62K10th
- $68K25th
- $80KMedian
- $111K75th
- $155K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $93,040 | $7,753 | $44.73 |
| Median | $80,120 | $6,677 | $38.52 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $67,960 | $5,663 | $32.67 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $111,140 | $9,262 | $53.43 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Life Scientists, All Other pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Other life scientists in San Diego earn 21% less than the California average ($117,510) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($107,860). At the median the gap is -15% against the U.S. median of $93,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $93,040 | $80,120 | $61,960 | $154,900 | 160 |
| California | $117,510 | $102,830 | $62,910 | $187,550 | 860 |
| United States | $107,860 | $93,750 | $58,670 | $186,260 | 7,460 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Life Scientists, All Other salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $93,040, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $69,723 a year, or $5,810 a month and $2,682 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% 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 Diego a good place for other life scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $93,040 buys what about $83,155 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 10.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Life Scientists, All Other salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 5th of 5 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($152,410).
- San Jose$152,410
- San Francisco$139,970
- Los Angeles$126,380
- Sacramento$107,630
- San Diego$93,040
Highest-paying cities for other life scientists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($152,410).
- San Jose, CA$152,410
- San Francisco, CA$139,970
- Washington, DC$139,090
- Phoenix, AZ$135,570
- Charlotte, NC$126,790
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Life Scientists, All Other salary in San Diego: questions
How much do other life scientists make an hour in San Diego?
$44.73 an hour on average, and $38.52 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level other life scientists salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,960 a year and the 25th percentile is $67,960, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the other life scientists take-home pay in San Diego?
About $69,723 a year ($5,810 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $93,040. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do other life scientists earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% less than the U.S. average for this job ($107,860).
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 19-1099; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 11.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- 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 2.10, this job is 2.1 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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