California Median
$71,440
per year
Hourly Rate
$34.35
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+24% vs US median
US median $57,510
State Rank
#1 of 51
9,210 employed here
How much does a Biological Technician make in California?
A Biological Technician working in California earns a median salary of $71,440 per year, or about $34.35 per hour. That is 24% above the national median of $57,510 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $46,700 while the top 10% make $121,670 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $56,200 and $93,010 a year.
Biological Technician salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,700 | $22.45 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $56,200 | $27.02 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $71,440 | $34.35 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $93,010 | $44.72 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $121,670 | $58.50 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 1st out of 51 states and territories for Biological Technician pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Biological Technician salary in other states
New Jersey $66,040District of Columbia $64,770Connecticut $62,360Massachusetts $62,070North Carolina $61,720New York $61,210Washington $60,800Maine $60,160Colorado $59,400Indiana $58,790Delaware $58,550Mississippi $56,930Alaska $56,470Illinois $55,790New Hampshire $55,540North Dakota $55,330Pennsylvania $54,950Virginia $53,360Arizona $53,290South Carolina $53,040Utah $52,960Maryland $52,900Georgia $52,420Oregon $52,190Wisconsin $51,750Nevada $51,680Kansas $51,630West Virginia $51,440Vermont $51,190Ohio $51,080Michigan $51,070Tennessee $50,840Missouri $50,640Texas $50,130Montana $49,920New Mexico $49,570Alabama $49,220Kentucky $48,910Hawaii $48,770Florida $48,700Nebraska $48,220Minnesota $48,130Iowa $48,050Oklahoma $47,850Louisiana $47,310Arkansas $46,930Wyoming $46,480Rhode Island $45,530Idaho $42,130South Dakota $41,300
Working as a Biological Technician in California
Nationally, about 70,000 people work as Biological Technicians in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($71,440) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Biological Technician make in California?
The median Biological Technician salary in California is $71,440 per year, or about $34.35 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $46,700 at the entry level to $121,670 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Biological Technicians about 24% more than the national median of $57,510. California ranks 1st out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Biological Technicians?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $71,440 a year. About 9,210 Biological Technicians are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Biological Technician salary report
Related salaries
$76,750
median pay · 3,000 employed
$53,350
median pay · 7,000 employed
$78,850
median pay · 16,000 employed
$60,390
median pay · 58,000 employed
$55,090
median pay · 35,000 employed
$69,460
median pay · 8,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.