SOC 19-4042 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health — San Francisco
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA · 10 metro areas compared
At $80,840 a year, the median wage for Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health in San Francisco, CA sits 46.7% above the national figure of $55,090.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $80,840 a year, the median wage for Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health in San Francisco, CA sits 46.7% above the national figure of $55,090. Half of workers earn between $61,360 and $112,810. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $50,000 and the ninetieth at $128,750.
The area has 690 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.30 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. San Luis Obispo leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $90,720. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 354th of 688 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $50,000 | −9.2% |
| 25th | $61,360 | +11.4% |
| Median (50th) | $80,840 | +46.7% |
| 75th | $112,810 | +104.8% |
| 90th | $128,750 | +133.7% |
| Mean | $87,000 | +57.9% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Luis Obispo | $90,720 | 40 | |
| 2 | Fresno | $77,840 | 400 | |
| 3 | Redding | $77,650 | 40 | |
| 4 | Visalia | $77,390 | 30 | |
| 5 | Santa Rosa | $74,170 | 80 | |
| 6 | Modesto | $69,900 | 90 | |
| 7 | San Jose | $68,900 | 160 | |
| 8 | Santa Maria | $66,340 | 90 | |
| 9 | Santa Cruz | $66,000 | 50 | |
| 10 | Vallejo | $65,090 | 50 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in San Francisco run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $80,840 buys what $73,026 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 32.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$80,840as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$73,026US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $80,840 a year, 46.7% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $50,000 to $128,750 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 690 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Luis Obispo, at $90,720.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health in San Francisco, CA?
The median annual wage is $80,840, or $38.86 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $55,090, so pay in San Francisco, CA is 46.7% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in San Francisco, CA earns more than $128,750 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $50,000 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in San Luis Obispo, at $90,720 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 690 jobs in this occupation in San Francisco, CA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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