SOC 19-4099 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other — San Jose
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other in San Jose, CA is $83,160 per year, well above the national median of $62,280.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other in San Jose, CA is $83,160 per year, well above the national median of $62,280. The gap of 33.5% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Half of workers earn between $63,200 and $111,140. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $48,890 and the ninetieth at $133,690.
Employment stands at 350, or 0.3 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Bakersfield records the highest median at $87,180. Of the 574 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 292nd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48,890 | −21.5% |
| 25th | $63,200 | +1.5% |
| Median (50th) | $83,160 | +33.5% |
| 75th | $111,140 | +78.5% |
| 90th | $133,690 | +114.7% |
| Mean | $89,560 | +43.8% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bakersfield | $87,180 | 70 | |
| 2 | Los Angeles | $86,450 | — | |
| 3 | Stockton | $79,830 | 40 | |
| 4 | Vallejo | $79,180 | 50 | |
| 5 | San Francisco | $77,670 | 1,880 | |
| 6 | Santa Rosa | $77,510 | 30 | |
| 7 | Riverside | $76,630 | 250 | |
| 8 | San Diego | $75,970 | 1,900 | |
| 9 | Oxnard | $74,100 | 70 | |
| 10 | Santa Cruz | $66,290 | 50 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in San Jose run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $83,160 buys what $75,122 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 20.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$83,160as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$75,122US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $83,160 a year, 33.5% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $48,890 to $133,690 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 350 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Bakersfield, at $87,180.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other in San Jose, CA?
The median annual wage is $83,160, or $39.98 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $62,280, so pay in San Jose, CA is 33.5% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in San Jose, CA earns more than $133,690 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $48,890 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Bakersfield, at $87,180 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 350 jobs in this occupation in San Jose, CA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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