Physical Scientists, All Other Salary in San Francisco, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA

Median annual salary $121,490 +3% vs national
Median hourly $58.41
10th percentile $111,490
90th percentile $187,930
Employed locally 760
National median $117,960

Compare Physical Scientists, All Other salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how San Francisco, CA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Physical Scientists, All Other
in
San Francisco, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $111,490
    25th
    $121,490
    50th (median)
    $121,490
    75th
    $145,720
    90th
    $187,930

    San Francisco economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $133,780 2023 • Census ACS
    Physical Scientists, All Other salary vs area income 91% Median Physical Scientists, All Other salary is 9% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Physical Scientists, All Other

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $174,810
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $170,960
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $168,870
    Minnesota $167,110
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $162,610
    District of Columbia $157,980

    Nearby metros — Physical Scientists, All Other salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $174,810
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $147,320
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $141,980
    South Carolina $134,430
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $132,750
    Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $132,490

    Related occupations in San Francisco, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$142,540
    Biological Scientists, All Other$132,670
    Biological Technicians$79,270
    Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$160,210
    Chemists$126,190
    Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$80,100

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Physical Scientists, All Other make per hour in San Francisco?

    The median hourly wage for Physical Scientists, All Other in San Francisco, CA is $58.41, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $82.34 or more per hour.

    Is San Francisco above or below average for Physical Scientists, All Other salaries?

    The median Physical Scientists, All Other salary in San Francisco, CA is 3% above the national median of $117,960. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Physical Scientists, All Other in San Francisco?

    Entry-level Physical Scientists, All Other (10th percentile) earn around $111,490 per year in San Francisco, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $121,490.