Physical Scientists, All Other Salary
The median pay for a physical scientists, all other in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA is $160,580/year ($77.2/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $91K at the entry level to $324K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 110.42), so that salary is closer to $145,427 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $3,483/month, about 36.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $161K get you in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara’s Regional Price Parity (110.42). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About physical scientists, all others
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What this looks like in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara sits well above the national pay line for physical scientists, all other, local pay runs about 31% higher than the U.S. median of $123K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $3,483/month, which is 38.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 10% above the national average (BEA RPP 110.42), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for physical scientists, all others in metros near San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $129K | $111K |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $136K | $120K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $132K | $118K |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $101K | $95K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Entry-level physical scientists, all others (10th percentile) start around $91K. Mid-career wages sit at $161K. Top earners bring in $324K or more, a $233K spread from bottom to top.
Physical Scientists, All Other pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Physical Scientists, All Other salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $157K | +28% | 790 |
| Minnesota | $148K | +21% | 540 |
| North Dakota | $148K | +20% | 70 |
| Maryland | $141K | +15% | 1,810 |
| South Carolina | $141K | +15% | 70 |
| Massachusetts | $138K | +13% | 350 |
| Georgia | $138K | +12% | 1,020 |
| Alabama | $135K | +10% | 140 |
| Pennsylvania | $135K | +10% | 460 |
| Colorado | $134K | +10% | 710 |
| Washington | $134K | +9% | 450 |
| Florida | $132K | +7% | 340 |
| California | $131K | +7% | 2,320 |
| Tennessee | $130K | +6% | 120 |
| Arizona | $125K | +2% | 170 |
| New Mexico | $124K | +1% | 240 |
| Alaska | $120K | -2% | 140 |
| Michigan | $119K | -3% | 130 |
| New York | $118K | -4% | 1,510 |
| Utah | $116K | -5% | 250 |
| Hawaii | $113K | -8% | 100 |
| New Hampshire | $112K | -8% | 210 |
| Oklahoma | $112K | -8% | 80 |
| North Carolina | $110K | -10% | 650 |
| New Jersey | $110K | -10% | 590 |
| Oregon | $110K | -11% | 290 |
| Illinois | $109K | -11% | 580 |
| Mississippi | $109K | -11% | 380 |
| Ohio | $109K | -11% | 430 |
| Nebraska | $101K | -17% | 40 |
| Texas | $101K | -18% | 2,310 |
| Connecticut | $100K | -18% | 370 |
| Wisconsin | $97K | -20% | 70 |
| Montana | $95K | -23% | 100 |
| Louisiana | $94K | -23% | 280 |
| Kentucky | $81K | -34% | 260 |
| Iowa | $81K | -34% | 100 |
| Wyoming | $69K | -44% | 60 |
| Indiana | $69K | -44% | 1,240 |
Showing 1–10 of 39 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track physical scientists, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
Can a physical scientists, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $161K, rent takes 38.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $3,483/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $2,700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for physical scientists, all others in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physical scientists, all others typically earn — is $91K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,469/month. At HUD’s $3,483/month FMR, rent would take 64% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is physical scientists, all other a high-paying job in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
Local pay is 31% above the national median — $161K here vs. $123K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 10% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara compare to the national average for physical scientists, all others?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara pays $161K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s +31%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 110.42), the purchasing-power equivalent is $145K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do physical scientists, all others make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median is $160,580 a year, that works out to about $77 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $91,150, and experienced physical scientists, all others can clear $323,840. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $161K enough to live in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,120/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,483/month, which eats 38.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a physical scientists, all other salary go in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara has a Regional Price Parity of 110.42 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median physical scientists, all other salary is worth about $145,427 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do physical scientists, all others get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.