How much does a physical scientist make in San Francisco?
$128,700a year
Median yearly pay for physical scientists in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area. That is $61.88 an hour or $10,730 a month.
- Hourly
- $61.88
- Vs. national median
- +5%
- Rank among cities
- 28 of 68
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $114,500Median: $128,700Highest 10%: $171,300
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $114,500 | $55.03 | |
| 25th | $128,700 | $61.88 | |
| Median | $128,700 | $61.88 | |
| 75th | $140,600 | $67.57 | |
| 90th | $171,300 | $82.34 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for physical scientists.
| San Jose, CA | $160,600 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $137,300 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $136,200 |
| San Diego, CA | $132,400 |
| Oxnard, CA | $131,600 |
| Sacramento, CA | $101,100 |
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 |
| Life Scientist | $134,800 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physical scientist make an hour in San Francisco?
The median hourly pay in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $61.88 ($128,700 a year).
Do physical scientists make more in San Francisco than the national average?
Yes: $128,700 against $122,600 nationally, 5% more.
How does San Francisco compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $130,600, so San Francisco pays 1% less.
Where does San Francisco rank for physical scientist pay?
28 of 68 metro areas with data.
How much does a physical scientist make starting out in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% make $114,500 or less a year; the top 10% make $171,300 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.