Research Manager (Natural Sciences) salary in San Francisco, CA
Based on 66 certified H-1B filings in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes South San Francisco, Foster City, Emeryville, Berkeley, Redwood City.
Also listed as: Clinical Research Coordinator, Clinical Research Manager
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $108,400 |
| 25th | $153,130 |
| 50th (median) | $194,041 |
| 75th | $223,375 |
| 90th | $269,625 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $155,000 | $126,250 | $172,472 | 50 |
| FY2021 | $160,000 | $124,718 | $180,317 | 44 |
| FY2022 | $176,030 | $139,604 | $216,068 | 62 |
| FY2023 | $160,000 | $131,914 | $185,864 | 41 |
| FY2024 | $177,000 | $140,000 | $223,034 | 37 |
| FY2025 | $194,041 | $153,130 | $213,500 | 42 |
| FY2026 | $198,000 | $156,600 | $249,250 | 24 |
Cost of living
San Francisco's median Research Manager (Natural Sciences) salary of $194,041 is worth about $167,800 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; San Francisco = 115.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Natural Sciences Managers in the San Francisco, CA area earned a median of $225,230 in May 2025 (5,530 employed). The H-1B median here is $194,041, 14% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Gilead Sciences | $193,170 | 12 |
| Genentech | too few | 4 |
| BioMarin Pharmaceutical | too few | 3 |
| Kyverna Therapeutics | too few | 3 |
| Eureka Therapeutics | too few | 2 |
| Sutter Health | too few | 2 |
| Syneos Health | too few | 2 |
| University of California, Berkeley | too few | 2 |
| University of California, San Francisco | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $165,819 | 10 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $204,859 | 22 |
| Senior · Level III | – | 0 |
| Expert · Level IV | – | 0 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $161,637 | $165,819 | 10 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $193,170 | $204,859 | 22 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.