Biological Technician salary in Salinas, CA
Biological Technicians in the Salinas, CA metro area earn a median of $59,320 a year ($28.52 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,880 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $57,510. Pay here is 17% lower than the California statewide median of $71,440. There are 0.23 biological technicians per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.51). The average (mean) salary is $63,090, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for biological technicians in Salinas, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,140 | $19.30 |
| 25th percentile | $48,190 | $23.17 |
| Median | $59,320 | $28.52 |
| 75th percentile | $77,400 | $37.21 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $92,880 | $44.65 |
| Average (mean) | $63,090 | $30.33 |
Half of biological technicians earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,943.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,471.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,281.54 |
| Weekly | $1,140.77 |
| Hourly | $28.52 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Biological Technician salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $95,220 | 2,690 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $72,940 | 790 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $67,060 | 1,770 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $66,610 | 1,830 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $66,240 | 50 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $66,110 | 70 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $64,410 | 710 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $60,470 | 130 |
| Vallejo, CA | $60,360 | 50 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $58,240 | 80 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $58,070 | 50 |
| Fresno, CA | $46,450 | 110 |
| Visalia, CA | $41,080 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for biological technicians
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $71,440 |
| New Jersey | $66,040 |
| District of Columbia | $64,770 |
| Connecticut | $62,360 |
| Massachusetts | $62,070 |
| North Carolina | $61,720 |
| New York | $61,210 |
| Washington | $60,800 |
| Maine | $60,160 |
| Colorado | $59,400 |
See Biological Technician pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Salinas, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Forest and Conservation Technicians | $59,920 | $28.81 |
| Agricultural Technician | $53,510 | $25.73 |
| Food Science Technician | $52,870 | $25.42 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $63,510 | $30.53 |
| Chemical Technician | $54,220 | $26.07 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $99,770 | $47.97 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $138,590 | $66.63 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $125,300 | $60.24 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $98,430 | $47.32 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $101,560 | $48.83 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $104,540 | $50.26 |
| Conservation Scientist | $77,020 | $37.03 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $84,900 | $40.82 |
| Chemist | $95,080 | $45.71 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Salinas, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-4021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a biological technician make in Salinas, CA?
The median salary for biological technicians in the Salinas, CA metro area is $59,320 a year, or $28.52 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,880 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid biological technicians make in Salinas, CA?
The top 10% of biological technicians in the Salinas, CA metro area earn at least $92,880 a year. The top 25% earn $77,400 or more.
What is the starting pay for biological technicians in Salinas, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,140 a year, and a quarter of biological technicians earn $48,190 or less.
How many biological technicians work in Salinas, CA?
About 40 biological technicians are employed in the Salinas, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.