SOC 11-9033 · San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro

Education Administrators, Postsecondary Salary in San Jose, CA

The average salary for education administrators, postsecondary in San Jose, California is $161,780 a year ($77.78 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $154,140: half of the 1,450 people in this job in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 28% more than the U.S. average for this job ($126,540).

$161,780average per year

$77.78 / hourMedian $154,140Take-home ≈ $110,889

  • $94K10th
  • $99K25th
  • $154KMedian
  • $199K75th
  • $306K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

1,450people in this job
+28%vs U.S. average
#3 of 18California metros
110cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Education Administrators, Postsecondary pay range in San Jose

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $94,310 a year or less, while the top 10% make $306,410 or more. The middle half of education administrators, postsecondary in San Jose earn between $99,060 and $198,750.

  • $94K10th
  • $99K25th
  • $154KMedian
  • $199K75th
  • $306K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$161,780$13,482$77.78
Median$154,140$12,845$74.11
Entry level (25th percentile)$99,060$8,255$47.62
Experienced (75th percentile)$198,750$16,562$95.55

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.

Education Administrators, Postsecondary pay in San Jose vs. California and the U.S.

Education administrators, postsecondary in San Jose earn 15% more than the California average ($140,980) and 28% more than the U.S. average ($126,540). At the median the gap is +47% against the U.S. median of $104,590.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
San Jose$161,780$154,140$94,310$306,4101,450
California$140,980$125,460$76,700$216,48014,870
United States$126,540$104,590$64,560$215,620180,470

State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.

Education Administrators, Postsecondary salary after taxes in San Jose

On the average salary of $161,780, a single filer in San Jose takes home about $110,889 a year, or $9,241 a month and $4,265 every two weeks. Taxes take 31% 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.

California paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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Is San Jose a good place for education administrators, postsecondary? 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 $161,780 buys what about $146,509 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in San Jose ($84,050). A typical home costs $1,610,466, or 10.0 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $161,780 is worth in another city

Education Administrators, Postsecondary salary in other California cities

San Jose ranks 3rd of 18 California metro areas for this job; Merced pays the most ($197,170).

All Education Administrators, Postsecondary salaries in California

Highest-paying cities for education administrators, postsecondary

Augusta, GA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($257,050).

Education Administrators, Postsecondary salary by city

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Education Administrators, Postsecondary salary in San Jose: questions

How much do education administrators, postsecondary make an hour in San Jose?

$77.78 an hour on average, and $74.11 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level education administrators, postsecondary salary in San Jose?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $94,310 a year and the 25th percentile is $99,060, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the education administrators, postsecondary take-home pay in San Jose?

About $110,889 a year ($9,241 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $161,780. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.

Do education administrators, postsecondary earn more in San Jose than elsewhere?

The average here is 28% more than the U.S. average for this job ($126,540).

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 11-9033; area San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA (41940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
  • 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 1.10, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.

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