San Bernardino Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
San Bernardino, CA: $23.27/hr median hourly wage, $48,400 median annual salary, cost of living index 100, and $16.50/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and California taxes.
San Bernardino Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in San Bernardino, CA is $23.27/hr,and the median annual wage is $48,400. Entry-level pay estimates around $14.43/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $33.04/hr, and the local minimum wage is $16.50/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metropolitan statistical area (1,716,760 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so San Bernardino shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$48,400
$23.27/hr
Cost of Living
100
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$16.50
per hour
Unemployment
5.5%
rate
San Bernardino, CA Overview
Population
222,101
Median Salary
$48,400
Average Salary
$65,160
Avg Commute
30 min
Median Home Price
$370,000
Median Rent
$1,350/mo
Job Growth
+1.5%
Sales Tax
8%
San Bernardino is located in California with a population of 222,101. The median annual wage across all occupations is $48,400 ($23.27/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro), which is $2,580 below the national median of $50,980. The national median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations median annual wage. The average commute time is 30 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +1.5%.
San Bernardino Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in San Bernardino, CA built around the $48,400 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro). Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile. The non-median rows are Salario estimates.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $30,008 | $14.43/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $48,400 | $23.27/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $68,728 | $33.04/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $86,152 | $41.42/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) are Salario approximations of the typical all-occupations wage spread in BLS OEWS metro tables; only the median row is a published BLS value. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
San Bernardino Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in San Bernardino, CA, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$39,973
$3,331.07/month · $1,537.42/biweekly · Effective Rate: 17.4%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,537.42 take-home per paycheck after estimated California and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$48,400
Federal Tax
-$3,628
State Tax
-$1,097
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$3,703
Net Pay
$39,973
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $4,033.33 | $48,400.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$302.33 | -$3,628.00 |
| California State Tax (2.27% eff.) | -$91.38 | -$1,096.53 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$250.07 | -$3,000.80 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$58.48 | -$701.80 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,331.07 | $39,972.87 |
Salary Comparison: San Bernardino vs Other Cities
See how San Bernardino's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Bernardino, CA | $48,400 | 100 | $48,400 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Riverside, CA | $48,400 | 115 | $42,087 |
| Fontana, CA | $48,400 | 102 | $47,451 |
| Moreno Valley, CA | $48,400 | 100 | $48,400 |
| Rancho Cucamonga, CA | $48,400 | 118 | $41,017 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in San Bernardino
San Bernardino's cost of living index is 100 (national average = 100). San Bernardino's cost of living matches the national average.
Median Home Price
$370,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,350
Annual Rent Cost
$16,200
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $39,973 annual take-home pay in San Bernardino has the purchasing power of approximately $39,973 in an average-cost US area. Your $48,400 salary stretches further here than in most US cities.
Top Industries in San Bernardino
San Bernardino's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $48,400.
Salary Tips for San Bernardino Workers
- Maximize pre-tax deductions. With a top 13.3% state income tax rate, maximizing 401(k) contributions (up to $24,500 in 2026) and HSA contributions can significantly reduce both your federal and state tax burden.
- Research top industries. San Bernardino's top industries include Logistics, Government, Healthcare. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $48,400 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Other Cities in California
San Bruno
San Carlos
San Clemente
San Diego
San Dimas
San Francisco
San Gabriel
San Jacinto
San Jose
San Leandro
San Luis Obispo
San Marcos
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate San Bernardino salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS does not publish city-level wages, so every city inside that metro shows the same figure. The entry/senior/top-10% rows, the paycheck estimate and the purchasing-power conversion are Salario calculations built on that median. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with San Bernardino indexed at 100.
- Median salary: $48,400 annual, $23.27 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA MSA (1,716,760 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $65,160 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for San Bernardino was $46,000.
- Tax burden reflects California 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 13.3%) (no local income tax), sales tax (8%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for San Bernardino: 5.5%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Logistics, Government, Healthcare, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 1.5% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for California.
- Housing context: median home price $370,000, median rent $1,350/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for San Bernardino, CA:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, San Bernardino unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, San Bernardino QuickFacts, population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance, California, state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. San Bernardino's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines, always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent California labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Harlan Voss · Last updated September 17, 2026 · Wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026) · Census data current as of latest releases
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in San Bernardino, CA?
The median hourly wage in San Bernardino, CA is $23.27 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $48,400. Entry-level workers are estimated around $14.43/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $33.04/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in San Bernardino, CA?
The median salary in San Bernardino, CA is $48,400 per year, or $23.27 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area). The BLS mean salary is $65,160. This is $2,580 below the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in San Bernardino, CA?
San Bernardino's cost of living index is 100 (national average = 100), meaning it is equal to the cost of living compared to the national average. The median home price is $370,000 and the median monthly rent is $1,350.
What are the best industries in San Bernardino?
The top industries in San Bernardino, CA include Logistics, Government, Healthcare. The city has a job growth rate of 1.5% and an unemployment rate of 5.5%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $48,400.
How does San Bernardino's salary compare to other cities?
San Bernardino's median salary of $48,400 is 5.1% below the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 100), the real purchasing power is approximately $48,400.
What is the minimum wage in San Bernardino, CA?
The minimum wage in San Bernardino, CA is $16.50 per hour. This equals approximately $34,320 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This is $9.25 above the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.