Physical Scientists, All Other pay range in San Jose
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $91,150 a year or less, while the top 10% make $323,840 or more. The middle half of other physical scientists in San Jose earn between $115,780 and $211,150.
- $91K10th
- $116K25th
- $161KMedian
- $211K75th
- $324K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $177,370 | $14,781 | $85.27 |
| Median | $160,580 | $13,382 | $77.20 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $115,780 | $9,648 | $55.66 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $211,150 | $17,596 | $101.51 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physical Scientists, All Other pay in San Jose vs. California and the U.S.
Other physical scientists in San Jose earn 24% more than the California average ($143,310) and 37% more than the U.S. average ($129,230). At the median the gap is +31% against the U.S. median of $122,570.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose | $177,370 | $160,580 | $91,150 | $323,840 | 340 |
| California | $143,310 | $130,610 | $81,360 | $211,150 | 2,320 |
| United States | $129,230 | $122,570 | $67,000 | $195,190 | 22,300 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Physical Scientists, All Other salary after taxes in San Jose
On the average salary of $177,370, a single filer in San Jose takes home about $120,095 a year, or $10,008 a month and $4,619 every two weeks. Taxes take 32% 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 other physical scientists? 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 $177,370 buys what about $160,628 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 9.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Physical Scientists, All Other salary in other California cities
San Jose ranks 1st of 8 California metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- San Jose$177,370
- Bakersfield$149,610
- Los Angeles$143,420
- San Diego$135,730
- San Francisco$135,640
- Oxnard$129,710
- Riverside$112,750
- Sacramento$104,690
Highest-paying cities for other physical scientists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($177,370).
- San Jose, CA$177,370
- Minneapolis, MN$172,740
- Washington, DC$166,920
- Palm Bay, FL$158,750
- Huntsville, AL$154,990
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Physical Scientists, All Other salary in San Jose: questions
How much do other physical scientists make an hour in San Jose?
$85.28 an hour on average, and $77.20 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level other physical scientists salary in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $91,150 a year and the 25th percentile is $115,780, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the other physical scientists take-home pay in San Jose?
About $120,095 a year ($10,008 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $177,370. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do other physical scientists earn more in San Jose than elsewhere?
The average here is 37% more than the U.S. average for this job ($129,230).
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 19-2099; 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 2.09, this job is 2.1 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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