How much does a life scientist make in San Diego?
$80,120a year
Median yearly pay for life scientists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $38.52 an hour or $6,677 a month.
- Hourly
- $38.52
- Vs. national median
- -15%
- Rank among cities
- 17 of 29
- Jobs in the area
- 160
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $61,960Median: $80,120Highest 10%: $154,900
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $61,960 | $29.79 | |
| 25th | $67,960 | $32.67 | |
| Median | $80,120 | $38.52 | |
| 75th | $111,100 | $53.43 | |
| 90th | $154,900 | $74.47 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for life scientists.
| San Francisco, CA | $134,800 |
| San Jose, CA | $125,400 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $104,700 |
| Sacramento, CA | $100,700 |
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 life scientist make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $38.52 ($80,120 a year).
Do life scientists make more in San Diego than the national average?
No: $80,120 against $93,750 nationally, 15% less.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $102,800, so San Diego pays 22% less.
Where does San Diego rank for life scientist pay?
17 of 29 metro areas with data.
How much does a life scientist make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $61,960 or less a year; the top 10% make $154,900 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.