Compensation and Benefits Managers salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Compensation and Benefits Managers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median of $215,180 a year ($103.45 an hour), based on BLS data for 320 workers.
Pay ranges from $141,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $318,060 for the top 10%. That is 44% higher than the national median of $149,230. Pay here is 29% higher than the California statewide median of $166,730. There are 0.28 compensation and benefits managers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $227,460, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for compensation and benefits managers in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $141,310 | $67.94 |
| 25th percentile | $171,470 | $82.44 |
| Median | $215,180 | $103.45 |
| 75th percentile | $294,040 | $141.37 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $318,060 | $152.91 |
| Average (mean) | $227,460 | $109.36 |
Half of compensation and benefits managers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $17,931.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $8,965.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $8,276.15 |
| Weekly | $4,138.08 |
| Hourly | $103.45 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $215,180 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Compensation and Benefits Managers salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $188,850 | 590 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $160,970 | 240 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $159,450 | 140 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $155,380 | 1,030 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $142,950 | 30 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $132,700 | 130 |
Highest-paying states for compensation and benefits managers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $199,190 |
| Connecticut | $197,970 |
| Massachusetts | $184,070 |
| New York | $175,620 |
| New Jersey | $168,370 |
| California | $166,730 |
| Delaware | $166,070 |
| Colorado | $165,770 |
| Minnesota | $163,390 |
| Georgia | $163,060 |
See Compensation and Benefits Managers pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $291,660 | $140.22 |
| Financial Manager | $225,280 | $108.31 |
| Human Resources Manager | $220,460 | $105.99 |
| Administrative Services Manager | $137,820 | $66.26 |
| Industrial Production Manager | $171,140 | $82.28 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $177,400 | $85.29 |
| Facilities Manager | $145,000 | $69.71 |
| Training and Development Managers | $230,020 | $110.59 |
| Purchasing Manager | $198,980 | $95.66 |
| General and Operations Managers | $163,860 | $78.78 |
| Managers, All Other | $217,280 | $104.46 |
| Sales Manager | $201,780 | $97.01 |
| Marketing Manager | $231,370 | $111.24 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $234,590 | $112.78 |
More: Management Occupations · all salaries in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 11-3111. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a compensation and benefits managers make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median salary for compensation and benefits managers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $215,180 a year, or $103.45 an hour. Pay ranges from $141,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $318,060 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid compensation and benefits managers make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The top 10% of compensation and benefits managers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn at least $318,060 a year. The top 25% earn $294,040 or more.
What is the starting pay for compensation and benefits managers in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $141,310 a year, and a quarter of compensation and benefits managers earn $171,470 or less.
How many compensation and benefits managers work in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
About 320 compensation and benefits managers are employed in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.