SOC 19-1042 · San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro

Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists Salary in San Jose, CA

The average salary for medical scientists (except epidemiologists) in San Jose, California is $154,410 a year ($74.24 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $159,300: half of the 2,150 people in this job in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 32% more than the U.S. average for this job ($116,840).

$154,410average per year

$74.24 / hourMedian $159,300Take-home ≈ $106,537

  • $91K10th
  • $122K25th
  • $159KMedian
  • $179K75th
  • $204K90th

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

2,150people in this job
+32%vs U.S. average
#3 of 21California metros
110cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists pay range in San Jose

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $90,730 a year or less, while the top 10% make $204,290 or more. The middle half of medical scientists (except epidemiologists) in San Jose earn between $122,130 and $178,840.

  • $91K10th
  • $122K25th
  • $159KMedian
  • $179K75th
  • $204K90th

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

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$154,410$12,868$74.24
Median$159,300$13,275$76.59
Entry level (25th percentile)$122,130$10,178$58.72
Experienced (75th percentile)$178,840$14,903$85.98

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

Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists pay in San Jose vs. California and the U.S.

Medical scientists (except epidemiologists) in San Jose earn 10% more than the California average ($140,120) and 32% more than the U.S. average ($116,840). At the median the gap is +54% against the U.S. median of $103,410.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
San Jose$154,410$159,300$90,730$204,2902,150
California$140,120$136,990$81,320$180,06029,830
United States$116,840$103,410$64,800$177,780172,340

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

Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists salary after taxes in San Jose

On the average salary of $154,410, a single filer in San Jose takes home about $106,537 a year, or $8,878 a month and $4,098 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 medical scientists (except epidemiologists)? 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 $154,410 buys what about $139,835 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in San Jose ($84,050). A typical home costs $1,610,466, or 10.4 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $154,410 is worth in another city

Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists salary in other California cities

San Jose ranks 3rd of 21 California metro areas for this job; Vallejo pays the most ($162,840).

All Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists salaries in California

Highest-paying cities for medical scientists (except epidemiologists)

Syracuse, NY pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($182,580).

Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists salary by city

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Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists salary in San Jose: questions

How much do medical scientists (except epidemiologists) make an hour in San Jose?

$74.24 an hour on average, and $76.59 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level medical scientists (except epidemiologists) salary in San Jose?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $90,730 a year and the 25th percentile is $122,130, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the medical scientists (except epidemiologists) take-home pay in San Jose?

About $106,537 a year ($8,878 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $154,410. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.

Do medical scientists (except epidemiologists) earn more in San Jose than elsewhere?

The average here is 32% more than the U.S. average for this job ($116,840).

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 19-1042; area San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA (41940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
  • 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 1.71, this job is 1.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.

Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.