How much does a biological scientist make in San Diego?
$108,400a year
Median yearly pay for biological scientists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $52.09 an hour or $9,029 a month.
- Hourly
- $52.09
- Vs. national median
- +10%
- Rank among cities
- 17 of 156
- Jobs in the area
- 1,960
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $69,900Median: $108,400Highest 10%: $162,900
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $69,900 | $33.61 | |
| 25th | $84,450 | $40.60 | |
| Median | $108,400 | $52.09 | |
| 75th | $136,800 | $65.77 | |
| 90th | $162,900 | $78.32 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for biological scientists.
| San Francisco, CA | $138,200 |
| San Jose, CA | $133,800 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $124,800 |
| Vallejo, CA | $110,800 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $110,300 |
| Salinas, CA | $104,500 |
| Stockton, CA | $102,700 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $98,400 |
| Sacramento, CA | $98,220 |
| Oxnard, CA | $97,680 |
| Modesto, CA | $97,120 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $96,380 |
| Riverside, CA | $94,810 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $93,550 |
| El Centro, CA | $93,260 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $90,640 |
| Fresno, CA | $81,720 |
| Chico, CA | $72,240 |
Related jobs in San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Physicist | $156,500 |
| Psychologist | $148,800 |
| Physical Scientist | $132,400 |
| School Psychologist | $131,100 |
| Medical Scientist | $131,000 |
| Epidemiologist | $125,300 |
| Economist | $122,800 |
| Biochemist and Biophysicist | $121,700 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientist | $120,400 |
| Microbiologist | $108,900 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a biological scientist make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $52.09 ($108,400 a year).
Do biological scientists make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $108,400 against $98,920 nationally, 10% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $113,500, so San Diego pays 5% less.
Where does San Diego rank for biological scientist pay?
17 of 156 metro areas with data.
How much does a biological scientist make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $69,900 or less a year; the top 10% make $162,900 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.