Biochemists and Biophysicists pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $104,380 a year or less, while the top 10% make $223,740 or more. The middle half of biochemists and biophysicists in San Francisco earn between $133,980 and $200,380.
- $104K10th
- $134K25th
- $165KMedian
- $200K75th
- $224K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $168,650 | $14,054 | $81.08 |
| Median | $165,050 | $13,754 | $79.35 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $133,980 | $11,165 | $64.41 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $200,380 | $16,698 | $96.34 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Biochemists and Biophysicists pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Biochemists and biophysicists in San Francisco earn 14% more than the California average ($148,550) and 30% more than the U.S. average ($129,840). At the median the gap is +30% against the U.S. median of $127,410.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $168,650 | $165,050 | $104,380 | $223,740 | 1,380 |
| California | $148,550 | $139,580 | $83,580 | $208,210 | 3,240 |
| United States | $129,840 | $127,410 | $74,290 | $201,110 | 33,830 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Biochemists and Biophysicists salary after taxes in San Francisco
On the average salary of $168,650, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $114,946 a year, or $9,579 a month and $4,421 every two weeks. Taxes take 32% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Francisco a good place for biochemists and biophysicists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $168,650 buys what about $145,875 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 6.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Biochemists and Biophysicists salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 1st of 5 California metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- San Francisco$168,650
- Riverside$160,890
- Los Angeles$139,380
- San Jose$137,020
- San Diego$126,920
Highest-paying cities for biochemists and biophysicists
Jacksonville, FL pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($170,200).
- Jacksonville, FL$170,200
- San Francisco, CA$168,650
- Knoxville, TN$165,540
- Riverside, CA$160,890
- Dallas, TX$155,950
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Biochemists and Biophysicists salary in San Francisco: questions
How much do biochemists and biophysicists make an hour in San Francisco?
$81.08 an hour on average, and $79.35 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level biochemists and biophysicists salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $104,380 a year and the 25th percentile is $133,980, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the biochemists and biophysicists take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $114,946 a year ($9,579 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $168,650. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do biochemists and biophysicists earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 30% more than the U.S. average for this job ($129,840).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-1021; area San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.67, this job is 2.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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