San Jose Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
San Jose, CA: $40.41/hr median hourly wage, $84,050 median annual salary, cost of living index 195, and $16.50/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and California taxes.
San Jose Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in San Jose, CA is $40.41/hr,and the median annual wage is $84,050. Entry-level pay estimates around $25.05/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $57.38/hr, and the local minimum wage is $16.50/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metropolitan statistical area (1,134,970 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so San Jose shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$84,050
$40.41/hr
Cost of Living
195
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$16.50
per hour
Unemployment
3%
rate
San Jose, CA Overview
Population
1,013,240
Median Salary
$84,050
Average Salary
$119,230
Avg Commute
29 min
Median Home Price
$1,350,000
Median Rent
$3,200/mo
Job Growth
+2.8%
Sales Tax
9.38%
San Jose is located in California with a population of 1,013,240. The median annual wage across all occupations is $84,050 ($40.41/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro), which is $33,070 above 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 29 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +2.8%.
San Jose Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in San Jose, CA built around the $84,050 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, 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 | $52,111 | $25.05/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $84,050 | $40.41/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $119,351 | $57.38/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $149,609 | $71.93/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 Jose Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in San Jose, CA, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$64,235
$5,352.88/month · $2,470.56/biweekly · Effective Rate: 23.6%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $2,470.56 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
$84,050
Federal Tax
-$9,661
State Tax
-$3,725
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$6,430
Net Pay
$64,235
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $7,004.17 | $84,050.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$805.08 | -$9,661.00 |
| California State Tax (4.43% eff.) | -$310.39 | -$3,724.63 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$434.26 | -$5,211.10 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$101.56 | -$1,218.73 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $5,352.88 | $64,234.55 |
Salary Comparison: San Jose vs Other Cities
See how San Jose's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $84,050 | 195 | $43,103 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Sunnyvale, CA | $84,050 | 200 | $42,025 |
| Mountain View, CA | $84,050 | 141.7 | $59,315 |
| Milpitas, CA | $84,050 | 146.1 | $57,529 |
| Palo Alto, CA | $84,050 | 145 | $57,966 |
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 Jose
San Jose's cost of living index is 195 (national average = 100). Living in San Jose is 95% more expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$1,350,000
Median Monthly Rent
$3,200
Annual Rent Cost
$38,400
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $64,235 annual take-home pay in San Jose has the purchasing power of approximately $32,941 in an average-cost US area. You would need to earn $163,898 in San Jose to match a $84,050 salary in an average-cost city.
Top Industries in San Jose
San Jose's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $84,050.
Salary Tips for San Jose Workers
- Negotiate for cost of living. San Jose has a cost of living 95% above the national average. When negotiating salary, factor in the higher housing and living costs to ensure your real purchasing power stays competitive.
- 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 Jose's top industries include Technology, Semiconductor, Healthcare. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $84,050 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.
Job Salaries in San Jose, CA
Browse occupation-specific salaries for San Jose. Figures marked BLS are the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for that occupation in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area (75 of 338); the rest are Salario estimates adjusted for San Jose's cost of living. Each page connects the benchmark with local take-home pay and market context.
Other Cities in California
San Leandro
San Luis Obispo
San Marcos
San Mateo
San Pablo
San Rafael
San Ramon
Santa Ana
Santa Barbara
Santa Clarita
Santa Cruz
Santa Maria
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate San Jose salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, 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 Jose indexed at 195.
- Median salary: $84,050 annual, $40.41 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA MSA (1,134,970 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $119,230 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for San Jose was $117,000.
- Tax burden reflects California 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 13.3%) (no local income tax), sales tax (9.38%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for San Jose: 3%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Technology, Semiconductor, Healthcare, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 2.8% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for California.
- Housing context: median home price $1,350,000, median rent $3,200/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for San Jose, CA:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, San Jose unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, San Jose 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 Jose'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 Jose, CA?
The median hourly wage in San Jose, CA is $40.41 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $84,050. Entry-level workers are estimated around $25.05/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $57.38/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in San Jose, CA?
The median salary in San Jose, CA is $84,050 per year, or $40.41 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area). The BLS mean salary is $119,230. This is $33,070 above the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in San Jose, CA?
San Jose's cost of living index is 195 (national average = 100), meaning it is 95% more expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $1,350,000 and the median monthly rent is $3,200.
What are the best industries in San Jose?
The top industries in San Jose, CA include Technology, Semiconductor, Healthcare. The city has a job growth rate of 2.8% and an unemployment rate of 3%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $84,050.
How does San Jose's salary compare to other cities?
San Jose's median salary of $84,050 is 64.9% above the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 195), the real purchasing power is approximately $43,103.
What is the minimum wage in San Jose, CA?
The minimum wage in San Jose, 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.