How much does a life scientist make in San Francisco?
$134,800a year
Median yearly pay for life scientists in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area. That is $64.81 an hour or $11,230 a month.
- Hourly
- $64.81
- Vs. national median
- +44%
- Rank among cities
- 1 of 29
- Jobs in the area
- 170
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $77,120Median: $134,800Highest 10%: $187,600
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $77,120 | $37.08 | |
| 25th | $101,700 | $48.88 | |
| Median | $134,800 | $64.81 | |
| 75th | $174,400 | $83.82 | |
| 90th | $187,600 | $90.17 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for life scientists.
| San Jose, CA | $125,400 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $104,700 |
| Sacramento, CA | $100,700 |
| San Diego, CA | $80,120 |
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 |
| Biological Scientist | $138,200 |
| Urban and Regional Planner | $136,300 |
| Sociologist | $134,800 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a life scientist make an hour in San Francisco?
The median hourly pay in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $64.81 ($134,800 a year).
Do life scientists make more in San Francisco than the national average?
Yes: $134,800 against $93,750 nationally, 44% more.
How does San Francisco compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $102,800, so San Francisco pays 31% more.
Where does San Francisco rank for life scientist pay?
1 of 29 metro areas with data.
How much does a life scientist make starting out in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% make $77,120 or less a year; the top 10% make $187,600 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.