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Salaries in San Jose by Occupation
Average pay by occupation in the San Jose metro area: 36 jobs ranked by annual salary from official U.S. BLS OEWS wage data. Figures cover the whole San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metropolitan area, not just city centers.
Source: U.S. BLS OEWS metro data (San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA) · Last verified: 2026-10-08 · Methodology
San Jose pay by occupation
| Occupation | Hourly | Yearly |
| Financial Managers | $113.89 | $236,890 |
| Marketing Managers | $113.54 | $236,170 |
| Software Developers | $96.06 | $199,800 |
| Data Scientists | $86.75 | $180,440 |
| Information Security Analysts | $82.19 | $170,960 |
| Registered Nurses | $82.11 | $170,780 |
| Web Developers | $75.23 | $156,480 |
| Project Management Specialists | $72.46 | $150,720 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $67.07 | $139,510 |
| Accountants and Auditors | $59.65 | $124,070 |
| Firefighters | $58.63 | $121,960 |
| Human Resources Specialists | $55.11 | $114,620 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $54.75 | $113,870 |
| Graphic Designers | $49.64 | $103,260 |
| Electricians | $49.32 | $102,590 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $47.87 | $99,570 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $46.50 | $96,730 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | $43.99 | $91,500 |
| Computer User Support Specialists | $42.14 | $87,650 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $41.91 | $87,180 |
| Carpenters | $38.91 | $80,940 |
| Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics | $35.98 | $74,830 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $34.08 | $70,890 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $33.44 | $69,560 |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | $32.37 | $67,330 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $31.61 | $65,740 |
| Phlebotomists | $29.13 | $60,600 |
| Medical Assistants | $28.93 | $60,180 |
| Customer Service Representatives | $28.22 | $58,690 |
| Office Clerks, General | $27.59 | $57,380 |
| Nursing Assistants | $26.72 | $55,580 |
| Light Truck Drivers | $24.84 | $51,670 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $24.73 | $51,440 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $23.11 | $48,070 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $22.52 | $46,850 |
| Retail Salespersons | $22.15 | $46,070 |
Highest-paying occupations in San Jose
- Financial Managers — $236,890 a year
- Marketing Managers — $236,170 a year
- Software Developers — $199,800 a year
- Data Scientists — $180,440 a year
- Information Security Analysts — $170,960 a year
Wages above cover the whole San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro. For statewide context, see the California salary page, or browse all 36 salary guides.
Frequently asked questions
Which occupation pays the most in San Jose?
Financial Managers leads, at about $236,890 a year in the latest BLS OEWS release (San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro).
Where does the data come from?
Official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS wages for the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metropolitan statistical area, verified on 2026-10-08. Each occupation links to its full state-by-state table.
Is this pay for the city or the whole metro?
Pay covers the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA MSA — the city plus surrounding counties — which is exactly how the BLS publishes local wage data. Neighborhood-level pay varies.
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