Nuclear Med Tech Salary

San Francisco vs Simi Valley: Nuclear Medicine Technologist Salary (2026)

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

San Francisco, CA
$199,204
$95.78/hr
Simi Valley, CA
$182,130
$87.56/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricSan Francisco, CASimi Valley, CA
Median Salary$199,204$182,130
Hourly Rate$95.78$87.56
Entry Level (P10)$143,155$137,408
25th Percentile$179,901$152,967
75th Percentile$206,887$214,472
Top Earner (P90)$215,095$247,691
Total Employed17023
Side-by-side bar chart comparing San Francisco ($199,204) and Simi Valley ($182,130) nuclear medicine technologist salaries.San FranciscoSimi ValleyMedian Salary$199,204$182,130Entry Level (P10)$143,155$137,408Top Earner (P90)$215,095$247,691US Median $106,398

Verdict

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

The salary gap between San Francisco and Simi Valley is $17,074 (9.37%). 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 San Francisco spans $71,940,Simi Valley spans $110,283. Simi Valley has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced nuclear medicine technologists.

San Francisco
P10 (Entry)$143,155
P25$179,901
Median$199,204
P75$206,887
P90 (Top)$215,095
Simi Valley
P10 (Entry)$137,408
P25$152,967
Median$182,130
P75$214,472
P90 (Top)$247,691

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, San Francisco ($172,302 effective) pays 7.00% more than Simi Valley ($161,034 effective).

San Francisco
Nominal: $199,204
CoL Index: 115.613
Adjusted: $172,302
Simi Valley
Nominal: $182,130
CoL Index: 113.1
Adjusted: $161,034

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

Which City Is Right for You?

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

Choose Simi Valley if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($247,691)
  • You prefer the California area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, nuclear medicine technologist salaries in San Francisco grew 51.9% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 12.5% growth in Simi Valley over the same period.

San Francisco, CA

+51.9%

$124,920 (2019) → $189,790 (2025)

Simi Valley, CA

+12.5%

$154,241 (2024) → $173,523 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays nuclear medicine technologists more: San Francisco or Simi Valley?

San Francisco has a higher median nuclear medicine technologist salary at $199,204/year, compared to Simi Valley at $182,130/year — a difference of $17,074 (9.37%).

What is the hourly rate difference between San Francisco and Simi Valley?

San Francisco nuclear medicine technologists earn $95.78/hr while Simi Valley hygienists earn $87.56/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from San Francisco to Simi Valley as a nuclear medicine technologist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing San Francisco and Simi Valley. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: San Francisco = $172,302, Simi Valley = $161,034), job availability (170 vs 23 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level nuclear medicine technologists earn in San Francisco vs Simi Valley?

Entry-level (10th percentile) nuclear medicine technologists earn $143,155 in San Francisco and $137,408 in Simi Valley. 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