Chemical Technicians pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,090 a year or less, while the top 10% make $115,490 or more. The middle half of chemical technicians in San Francisco earn between $57,820 and $91,730.
- $49K10th
- $58K25th
- $71KMedian
- $92K75th
- $115K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $76,990 | $6,416 | $37.01 |
| Median | $71,470 | $5,956 | $34.36 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $57,820 | $4,818 | $27.80 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $91,730 | $7,644 | $44.10 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chemical Technicians pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Chemical technicians in San Francisco earn 19% more than the California average ($64,570) and 20% more than the U.S. average ($63,900). At the median the gap is +18% against the U.S. median of $60,390.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $76,990 | $71,470 | $49,090 | $115,490 | 1,040 |
| California | $64,570 | $59,510 | $44,070 | $88,900 | 6,800 |
| United States | $63,900 | $60,390 | $41,740 | $92,040 | 57,540 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chemical Technicians salary after taxes in San Francisco
On the average salary of $76,990, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $59,906 a year, or $4,992 a month and $2,304 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% 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 chemical technicians? 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 $76,990 buys what about $66,593 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 14.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Chemical Technicians salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 1st of 19 California metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- San Francisco$76,990
- San Jose$71,610
- Vallejo$70,500
- Sacramento$65,170
- Los Angeles$63,410
- San Diego$60,910
- Bakersfield$60,790
- Santa Maria$60,220
- Napa$58,780
- Santa Rosa$58,670
Highest-paying cities for chemical technicians
Baton Rouge, LA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($94,470).
- Baton Rouge, LA$94,470
- Lake Charles, LA$89,340
- Augusta, GA$83,060
- Niles, MI$81,900
- Beaumont, TX$80,360
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Chemical Technicians salary in San Francisco: questions
How much do chemical technicians make an hour in San Francisco?
$37.01 an hour on average, and $34.36 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chemical technicians salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,090 a year and the 25th percentile is $57,820, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chemical technicians take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $59,906 a year ($4,992 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $76,990. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do chemical technicians earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% more than the U.S. average for this job ($63,900).
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 19-4031; area San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.9%.
- 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 1.18, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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