Biological Technician salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Biological Technicians in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $66,240 a year ($31.84 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,660 for the lowest-paid 10% to $91,560 for the top 10%. That is 15% higher than the national median of $57,510. Pay here is 7% lower than the California statewide median of $71,440. There are 0.55 biological technicians per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $66,730, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for biological technicians in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,660 | $23.39 |
| 25th percentile | $48,660 | $23.39 |
| Median | $66,240 | $31.84 |
| 75th percentile | $80,110 | $38.51 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $91,560 | $44.02 |
| Average (mean) | $66,730 | $32.08 |
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 | $5,520 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,760 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,547.69 |
| Weekly | $1,273.85 |
| Hourly | $31.84 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $66,240 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
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 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 |
| Salinas, CA | $59,320 | 40 |
| 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $66,000 | $31.73 |
| Forest and Conservation Technicians | $46,010 | $22.12 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $66,290 | $31.87 |
| Chemical Technician | $57,390 | $27.59 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $134,060 | $64.45 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $112,270 | $53.98 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $103,610 | $49.81 |
| Chemist | $95,840 | $46.08 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $106,430 | $51.17 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $98,400 | $47.31 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $112,860 | $54.26 |
| Conservation Scientist | $72,860 | $35.03 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $136,120 | $65.44 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $66,040 | $31.75 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for biological technicians in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $66,240 a year, or $31.84 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,660 for the lowest-paid 10% to $91,560 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid biological technicians make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of biological technicians in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $91,560 a year. The top 25% earn $80,110 or more.
What is the starting pay for biological technicians in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,660 a year, and a quarter of biological technicians earn $48,660 or less.
How many biological technicians work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 50 biological technicians are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.