Biochemists and Biophysicists pay range in San Jose
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $81,110 a year or less, while the top 10% make $205,300 or more. The middle half of biochemists and biophysicists in San Jose earn between $97,410 and $169,310.
- $81K10th
- $97K25th
- $124KMedian
- $169K75th
- $205K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $137,020 | $11,418 | $65.88 |
| Median | $124,050 | $10,338 | $59.64 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $97,410 | $8,118 | $46.83 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $169,310 | $14,109 | $81.40 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Biochemists and Biophysicists pay in San Jose vs. California and the U.S.
Biochemists and biophysicists in San Jose earn 8% less than the California average ($148,550) and 6% more than the U.S. average ($129,840). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $127,410.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose | $137,020 | $124,050 | $81,110 | $205,300 | 190 |
| California | $148,550 | $139,580 | $83,580 | $208,210 | 3,240 |
| United States | $129,840 | $127,410 | $74,290 | $201,110 | 33,830 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Biochemists and Biophysicists salary after taxes in San Jose
On the average salary of $137,020, a single filer in San Jose takes home about $96,268 a year, or $8,022 a month and $3,703 every two weeks. Taxes take 30% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Jose a good place for biochemists and biophysicists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Jose area are 10% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 110.4), so the average $137,020 buys what about $124,086 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in San Jose ($84,050). A typical home costs $1,610,466, or 11.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Biochemists and Biophysicists salary in other California cities
San Jose ranks 4th of 5 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($168,650).
- San Francisco$168,650
- Riverside$160,890
- Los Angeles$139,380
- San Jose$137,020
- San Diego$126,920
Highest-paying cities for biochemists and biophysicists
Jacksonville, FL pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($170,200).
- Jacksonville, FL$170,200
- San Francisco, CA$168,650
- Knoxville, TN$165,540
- Riverside, CA$160,890
- Dallas, TX$155,950
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Biochemists and Biophysicists salary in San Jose: questions
How much do biochemists and biophysicists make an hour in San Jose?
$65.87 an hour on average, and $59.64 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level biochemists and biophysicists salary in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $81,110 a year and the 25th percentile is $97,410, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the biochemists and biophysicists take-home pay in San Jose?
About $96,268 a year ($8,022 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $137,020. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do biochemists and biophysicists earn more in San Jose than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% more than the U.S. average for this job ($129,840).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-1021; area San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA (41940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.77, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.77).
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