Life Scientists, All Other pay range in San Jose
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $70,570 a year or less, while the top 10% make $270,090 or more. The middle half of other life scientists in San Jose earn between $93,070 and $195,740.
- $71K10th
- $93K25th
- $125KMedian
- $196K75th
- $270K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $152,410 | $12,701 | $73.27 |
| Median | $125,430 | $10,452 | $60.30 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $93,070 | $7,756 | $44.75 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $195,740 | $16,312 | $94.11 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Life Scientists, All Other pay in San Jose vs. California and the U.S.
Other life scientists in San Jose earn 30% more than the California average ($117,510) and 41% more than the U.S. average ($107,860). At the median the gap is +34% against the U.S. median of $93,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose | $152,410 | $125,430 | $70,570 | $270,090 | 60 |
| California | $117,510 | $102,830 | $62,910 | $187,550 | 860 |
| United States | $107,860 | $93,750 | $58,670 | $186,260 | 7,460 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Life Scientists, All Other salary after taxes in San Jose
On the average salary of $152,410, a single filer in San Jose takes home about $105,356 a year, or $8,780 a month and $4,052 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.
Is San Jose a good place for other life 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 $152,410 buys what about $138,024 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in San Jose ($84,050). A typical home costs $1,610,466, or 10.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Life Scientists, All Other salary in other California cities
San Jose ranks 1st of 5 California metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- San Jose$152,410
- San Francisco$139,970
- Los Angeles$126,380
- Sacramento$107,630
- San Diego$93,040
Highest-paying cities for other life scientists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($152,410).
- San Jose, CA$152,410
- San Francisco, CA$139,970
- Washington, DC$139,090
- Phoenix, AZ$135,570
- Charlotte, NC$126,790
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Life Scientists, All Other salary in San Jose: questions
How much do other life scientists make an hour in San Jose?
$73.28 an hour on average, and $60.30 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level other life scientists salary in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $70,570 a year and the 25th percentile is $93,070, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the other life scientists take-home pay in San Jose?
About $105,356 a year ($8,780 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $152,410. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do other life scientists earn more in San Jose than elsewhere?
The average here is 41% more than the U.S. average for this job ($107,860).
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 19-1099; area San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA (41940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.6%.
- 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 1.12, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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