Mid-level Research Manager (Natural Sciences) salary in San Francisco, CA

Based on 22 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level II 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

Median salary$204,859
Middle 50%$193.2k–$208.3k
vs. all levels here+6%comparison median $194,041
Filings22FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $82,784 and $236,850.
PercentileSalary
10th$117,746
25th$193,170
50th (median)$204,859
75th$208,250
90th$218,150

Salary by year

Median salary

$140k $180k $220k FY2020: median $158,870 (12 filings) FY2021: median $180,000 (11 filings) FY2022: median $177,000 (19 filings) FY2023: median $174,158 (11 filings) FY2025: median $204,830 (18 filings) FY20 FY21 FY22 FY23 FY24 FY25 FY26

Filings per year

FY2020: 12 filings FY20 FY2021: 11 filings FY21 FY2022: 19 filings FY22 FY2023: 11 filings FY23 FY2024: 4 filings FY24 FY2025: 18 filings FY25 FY2026: 4 filings FY26 19
Shaded: FY2025–FY2026, the years behind the figures above. Median shown for years with at least 10 filings. FY2026 covers Q1–Q3 only.
Show as table
Fiscal yearMedianP25P75Filings
FY2020$158,870$158,870$159,15312
FY2021$180,000$170,761$192,50011
FY2022$177,000$176,030$200,00019
FY2023$174,158$102,500$174,15811
FY2024–––4
FY2025$204,830$193,170$204,85918
FY2026–––4

Cost of living

San Francisco's median mid-level Research Manager (Natural Sciences) salary of $204,859 is worth about $177,200 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 $204,859, 9% lower.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.

Employers filing at this level

EmployerMedianFilings
Gilead Sciencestoo few5
BioMarin Pharmaceuticaltoo few2
Kyverna Therapeuticstoo few2
Sutter Healthtoo few2

Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.

By experience level

Wage levelMedianFilings
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 levelPrevailing wage (most common)Median offered salaryFilings
Entry-level · Level I$161,637$165,81910
Mid-level · Level II$193,170$204,85922

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.