SOC 53-3099 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other — San Jose
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other in San Jose, CA is $48,230 per year, well above the national median of $37,180.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other in San Jose, CA is $48,230 per year, well above the national median of $37,180. The gap of 29.7% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Pay ranges from under $37,500 at the tenth percentile to more than $79,090 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $40,690 to $58,510.
The area has 180 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.2 of every thousand jobs. Vallejo leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $73,280. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 506th of 574 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,500 | +0.9% |
| 25th | $40,690 | +9.4% |
| Median (50th) | $48,230 | +29.7% |
| 75th | $58,510 | +57.4% |
| 90th | $79,090 | +112.7% |
| Mean | $53,340 | +43.5% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vallejo | $73,280 | 60 | |
| 2 | Salinas | $71,140 | 50 | |
| 3 | Stockton | $62,460 | 70 | |
| 4 | San Francisco | $50,140 | 430 | |
| 5 | Bakersfield | $47,870 | 80 | |
| 6 | San Diego | $47,770 | 340 | |
| 7 | Visalia | $45,290 | 70 | |
| 8 | Los Angeles | $44,180 | 1,140 | |
| 9 | Sacramento | $43,730 | 220 | |
| 10 | Fresno | $42,420 | 70 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in San Jose run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $48,230 buys what $43,568 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 17.2% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$48,230as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$43,568US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $48,230 a year, 29.7% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $37,500 to $79,090 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 180 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Vallejo, at $73,280.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other in San Jose, CA?
The median annual wage is $48,230, or $23.19 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 $37,180, so pay in San Jose, CA is 29.7% 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 $79,090 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $37,500 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 Vallejo, at $73,280 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 180 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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