Physical Scientists, All Other Salary in San Jose, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

Median annual salary $174,810 +48.2% vs national
Median hourly $84.04
10th percentile $123,630
90th percentile —
Employed locally 300
National median $117,960

Compare Physical Scientists, All Other salary & buying power

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Physical Scientists, All Other
in
San Jose, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $123,630
    25th
    $137,280
    50th (median)
    $174,810
    75th
    $197,950

    San Jose economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $157,444 2023 • Census ACS
    Physical Scientists, All Other salary vs area income 111% Median Physical Scientists, All Other salary is 11% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Physical Scientists, All Other

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $170,960
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $168,870
    Minnesota $167,110
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $162,610
    District of Columbia $157,980
    Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL $155,080

    Nearby metros — Physical Scientists, All Other salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $147,320
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $141,980
    South Carolina $134,430
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $132,750
    Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $132,490
    Bakersfield-Delano, CA $132,270

    Related occupations in San Jose, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$155,990
    Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$132,230
    Biological Scientists, All Other$132,630
    Biological Technicians$71,920
    Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$101,520
    Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$75,670

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Physical Scientists, All Other make per hour in San Jose?

    The median hourly wage for Physical Scientists, All Other in San Jose, CA is $84.04, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $155.69 or more per hour.

    Is San Jose above or below average for Physical Scientists, All Other salaries?

    The median Physical Scientists, All Other salary in San Jose, CA is 48.2% above the national median of $117,960. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Physical Scientists, All Other in San Jose?

    Entry-level Physical Scientists, All Other (10th percentile) earn around $123,630 per year in San Jose, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $137,280.