Biological Technicians pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,990 a year or less, while the top 10% make $95,180 or more. The middle half of biological technicians in San Diego earn between $58,810 and $78,730.
- $48K10th
- $59K25th
- $67KMedian
- $79K75th
- $95K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $69,330 | $5,778 | $33.33 |
| Median | $67,060 | $5,588 | $32.24 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $58,810 | $4,901 | $28.27 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $78,730 | $6,561 | $37.85 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Biological Technicians pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Biological technicians in San Diego earn 11% less than the California average ($78,170) and 13% more than the U.S. average ($61,380). At the median the gap is +17% against the U.S. median of $57,510.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $69,330 | $67,060 | $47,990 | $95,180 | 1,770 |
| California | $78,170 | $71,440 | $46,700 | $121,670 | 9,210 |
| United States | $61,380 | $57,510 | $40,330 | $84,940 | 69,620 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Biological Technicians salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $69,330, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $55,130 a year, or $4,594 a month and $2,120 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% 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 Diego a good place for biological technicians? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $69,330 buys what about $61,964 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 13.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Biological Technicians salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 4th of 14 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($99,540).
- San Francisco$99,540
- San Jose$78,870
- Los Angeles$71,110
- San Diego$69,330
- Sacramento$69,100
- Vallejo$67,380
- Santa Cruz$66,730
- Santa Maria$66,720
- Riverside$65,480
- Salinas$63,090
Highest-paying cities for biological technicians
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($99,540).
- San Francisco, CA$99,540
- San Jose, CA$78,870
- Boulder, CO$78,260
- Trenton, NJ$74,720
- Los Angeles, CA$71,110
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Biological Technicians salary in San Diego: questions
How much do biological technicians make an hour in San Diego?
$33.33 an hour on average, and $32.24 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level biological technicians salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,990 a year and the 25th percentile is $58,810, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the biological technicians take-home pay in San Diego?
About $55,130 a year ($4,594 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $69,330. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do biological technicians earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% more than the U.S. average for this job ($61,380).
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 19-4021; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.7%.
- 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 2.57, this job is 2.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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