Nuclear Med Tech Salary

Daly City vs San Francisco: Nuclear Medicine Technologist Salary (2026)

Compare nuclear medicine technologist salaries between Daly City, CA and San Francisco, CA. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Daly City, CA
$180,933
$86.99/hr
San Francisco, CA
$199,204
$95.78/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricDaly City, CASan Francisco, CA
Median Salary$180,933$199,204
Hourly Rate$86.99$95.78
Entry Level (P10)$134,054$143,155
25th Percentile$150,517$179,901
75th Percentile$207,450$206,887
Top Earner (P90)$237,323$215,095
Total Employed20170
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Daly City ($180,933) and San Francisco ($199,204) nuclear medicine technologist salaries.Daly CitySan FranciscoMedian Salary$180,933$199,204Entry Level (P10)$134,054$143,155Top Earner (P90)$237,323$215,095US Median $106,398

Verdict

San Francisco, CA offers better overall compensation for nuclear medicine technologists, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Daly City.

The salary gap between Daly City and San Francisco is $18,271 (10.10%). San Francisco's median is +87.23% compared to the US national median of $106,398.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Daly City spans $103,269,San Francisco spans $71,940. Daly City has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Daly City
P10 (Entry)$134,054
P25$150,517
Median$180,933
P75$207,450
P90 (Top)$237,323
San Francisco
P10 (Entry)$143,155
P25$179,901
Median$199,204
P75$206,887
P90 (Top)$215,095

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, San Francisco ($172,302 effective) pays 7.71% more than Daly City ($159,976 effective).

Daly City
Nominal: $180,933
CoL Index: 113.1
Adjusted: $159,976
San Francisco
Nominal: $199,204
CoL Index: 115.613
Adjusted: $172,302

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Daly City if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($237,323)
  • You prefer the California area and lifestyle

Choose San Francisco if…

  • Higher median salary ($199,204/year)
  • Larger job market (170 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $172,302)
  • You prefer the California area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, nuclear medicine technologist salaries in Daly City grew 12.5% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 51.9% growth in San Francisco over the same period.

Daly City, CA

+12.5%

$153,228 (2024) → $172,383 (2025)

San Francisco, CA

+51.9%

$124,920 (2019) → $189,790 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays nuclear medicine technologists more: Daly City or San Francisco?

San Francisco has a higher median nuclear medicine technologist salary at $199,204/year, compared to Daly City at $180,933/year — a difference of $18,271 (10.10%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Daly City and San Francisco?

Daly City nuclear medicine technologists earn $86.99/hr while San Francisco hygienists earn $95.78/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Daly City to San Francisco as a nuclear medicine technologist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Daly City and San Francisco. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Daly City = $159,976, San Francisco = $172,302), job availability (20 vs 170 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level nuclear medicine technologists earn in Daly City vs San Francisco?

Entry-level (10th percentile) nuclear medicine technologists earn $134,054 in Daly City and $143,155 in San Francisco. The San Francisco area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

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Written by Alexandra Chen, MS, CNMT

Career Analyst

Alexandra has 10 years of experience in nuclear medicine. She specializes in PET imaging at a community hospital. She analyzes trends in the nuclear medicine job market.

Clinically reviewed by David Martinez, BS, CNMTData verified by Fatima Nasir, MS, CNMT

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 4.96% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Alexandra Chen, MS, CNMT, a licensed nuclear medicine technologist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov