Life Scientists, All Other pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,120 a year or less, while the top 10% make $187,550 or more. The middle half of other life scientists in San Francisco earn between $101,670 and $174,350.
- $77K10th
- $102K25th
- $135KMedian
- $174K75th
- $188K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $139,970 | $11,664 | $67.29 |
| Median | $134,810 | $11,234 | $64.81 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $101,670 | $8,472 | $48.88 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $174,350 | $14,529 | $83.82 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Life Scientists, All Other pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Other life scientists in San Francisco earn 19% more than the California average ($117,510) and 30% more than the U.S. average ($107,860). At the median the gap is +44% against the U.S. median of $93,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $139,970 | $134,810 | $77,120 | $187,550 | 170 |
| 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 Francisco
On the average salary of $139,970, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $98,010 a year, or $8,168 a month and $3,770 every two weeks. Taxes take 30% 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 other life scientists? 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 $139,970 buys what about $121,068 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 8.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Life Scientists, All Other salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 2nd 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 Francisco: questions
How much do other life scientists make an hour in San Francisco?
$67.29 an hour on average, and $64.81 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level other life scientists salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,120 a year and the 25th percentile is $101,670, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the other life scientists take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $98,010 a year ($8,168 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $139,970. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do other life scientists earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 30% more 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 Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 12.0%.
- 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 1.47, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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