Salaries & Cost of Living in San Francisco, California
The global epicenter of venture capital and software innovation, offering unmatched compensation packages alongside the nation's highest cost of living. Discover salary benchmarks, wage percentiles, state income tax deductions, and housing costs across 20+ high-demand professions in San Francisco.
San Francisco Cost of Living by Expense Category
Normalized cost index (100 = U.S. National Average).
Key City Advantages & Living Factors
Climate: Mediterranean (Mild / Microclimates)Role Salaries in San Francisco
Explore 10th to 90th percentile salary benchmarks and estimated monthly take-home pay in San Francisco.
| Job Title | Category | Median Base Pay | Est. Net Take-Home | View Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Product Manager | Product | $262,700/yr | ~$15,696/mo | View |
| Senior Software Engineer | Engineering | $248,500/yr | ~$14,848/mo | View |
| Product Manager | Product | $201,640/yr | ~$12,048/mo | View |
| DevOps & Cloud Engineer | Engineering | $198,800/yr | ~$11,878/mo | View |
| Data Scientist | Data | $195,960/yr | ~$11,709/mo | View |
| Backend Engineer | Engineering | $191,700/yr | ~$11,454/mo | View |
| Software Engineer | Engineering | $187,440/yr | ~$11,200/mo | View |
| Frontend Engineer | Engineering | $176,080/yr | ~$10,521/mo | View |
| Product Designer | Design | $173,240/yr | ~$10,351/mo | View |
| Growth Marketer | Marketing | $163,300/yr | ~$9,757/mo | View |
| UX / UI Designer | Design | $159,040/yr | ~$9,503/mo | View |
| Marketing Manager | Marketing | $153,360/yr | ~$9,163/mo | View |
| Account Executive (SaaS) | Sales | $149,100/yr | ~$8,909/mo | View |
| QA & Test Automation Engineer | Engineering | $144,840/yr | ~$8,654/mo | View |
| Financial Analyst | Finance | $136,320/yr | ~$8,145/mo | View |
| Technical Recruiter | Human Resources | $133,480/yr | ~$7,975/mo | View |
| Data Analyst | Data | $130,640/yr | ~$7,806/mo | View |
| Customer Success Manager | Customer Support | $126,380/yr | ~$7,551/mo | View |
| SEO Specialist | Marketing | $120,700/yr | ~$7,212/mo | View |
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Find Housing in San Francisco
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Relocation Comparisons from San Francisco
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Frequently Asked Questions: Living & Working in San Francisco
What is considered a good salary in San Francisco?
In San Francisco, an annual salary between $90,000 and $140,000 is generally considered very comfortable for a single professional, easily covering median 1-bedroom rental costs ($3,100/mo) while allowing significant savings.
How do salaries in San Francisco compare to the U.S. national average?
On average, compensation in San Francisco is 42% above the U.S. national baseline across technology, product, and engineering roles.
What are state income taxes in San Francisco (CA)?
The estimated statutory state and local income tax rate in San Francisco is approximately 9.3%.
What is the average rent in San Francisco?
The median rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in San Francisco, California is currently around $3,100 per month.
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