How much does a biological scientist make in San Francisco?
$138,200a year
Median yearly pay for biological scientists in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area. That is $66.42 an hour or $11,510 a month.
- Hourly
- $66.42
- Vs. national median
- +40%
- Rank among cities
- 1 of 156
- Jobs in the area
- 4,280
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $84,200Median: $138,200Highest 10%: $215,900
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $84,200 | $40.48 | |
| 25th | $102,300 | $49.18 | |
| Median | $138,200 | $66.42 | |
| 75th | $174,100 | $83.72 | |
| 90th | $215,900 | $103.78 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for biological scientists.
| San Jose, CA | $133,800 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $124,800 |
| Vallejo, CA | $110,800 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $110,300 |
| San Diego, CA | $108,400 |
| 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 Francisco
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Materials Scientist | $231,700 |
| Psychologist | $168,000 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologist | $166,400 |
| Biochemist and Biophysicist | $165,100 |
| Medical Scientist | $160,200 |
| Hydrologist | $147,100 |
| Economist | $142,400 |
| Urban and Regional Planner | $136,300 |
| Life Scientist | $134,800 |
| Sociologist | $134,800 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a biological scientist make an hour in San Francisco?
The median hourly pay in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $66.42 ($138,200 a year).
Do biological scientists make more in San Francisco than the national average?
Yes: $138,200 against $98,920 nationally, 40% more.
How does San Francisco compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $113,500, so San Francisco pays 22% more.
Where does San Francisco rank for biological scientist pay?
1 of 156 metro areas with data.
How much does a biological scientist make starting out in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% make $84,200 or less a year; the top 10% make $215,900 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.