Radiologic Technologist Salary: Boston, MA vs San Francisco, CA
BLS reports this occupation as "Radiologic Technologists and Technicians" (29-2034); every figure on this page is for that BLS occupation.
Side-by-side comparison of wages and local price levels for Radiologic Technologists in Boston, MA and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data and BEA regional price parities for 2024.
1Which City Pays More?
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $104,590 | $141,780▲ | -$37,190 |
| 25th Percentile | $84,780 | $118,460▲ | -$33,680 |
| 75th Percentile | $126,390 | $169,610▲ | -$43,220 |
| 90th Percentile | $133,300 | $176,800▲ | -$43,500 |
| Price Level (BEA 2024, US = 100) | 108.3 | 115.6 | -7.3 |
| Median at National-Average Prices | $96,605 | $122,633▲ | -$26,028 |
| Total Employment | 4,100 | 2,850 | +1,250 |
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $37,190 more (median: $104,590 vs $141,780). BEA's regional price parity is 108.3 in Boston, MA and 115.6 in San Francisco, CA (United States = 100). At national-average prices the medians are $96,605 and $122,633, so San Francisco, CA comes out ahead once local prices are counted.
5Reading This Comparison
The $37,190 gap between the two medians is a gap in dollars, not in what those dollars buy. Dividing each median by its area's regional price parity restates it at national-average prices: $96,605 for Boston and $122,633 for San Francisco, a difference of $26,028.
The price levels come from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, which describes them this way: “Regional price parities (RPPs) measure the differences in price levels across states and metropolitan areas for a given year and are expressed as a percentage of the overall national price level.” The figures used here are the all-items index for each whole metropolitan area (Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA) and cover prices only, not taxes.
BLS estimates 4,100 Radiologic Technologist jobs in the Boston area and 2,850 in the San Francisco area. For broader context, see our Massachusetts overview and the full Radiologic Technologist city ranking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Radiologic Technologist salary higher in Boston, MA or San Francisco, CA?
San Francisco, CA has the higher median wage for Radiologic Technologists ($141,780 per year, against $104,590 in Boston, MA; BLS OEWS May 2025). Restated at national-average prices using BEA regional price parities, the medians are $96,605 in Boston, MA and $122,633 in San Francisco, CA.
How do prices compare between Boston, MA and San Francisco, CA?
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the 2024 regional price parity at 108.3 for the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan area and 115.6 for the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metropolitan area, where the United States is 100. That is 8.3% above the national level for Boston, MA and 15.6% above the national level for San Francisco, CA.
Which city pays Radiologic Technologists more once local prices are counted?
San Francisco, CA: at national-average prices its median Radiologic Technologist wage is $122,633, against $96,605 for Boston, MA. The adjustment divides each median by the area's BEA regional price parity and covers prices only, not taxes.