Physical Scientists, All Other salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Physical Scientists, All Other in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median of $160,580 a year ($77.20 an hour), based on BLS data for 340 workers.
Pay ranges from $91,150 for the lowest-paid 10% to $323,840 for the top 10%. That is 31% higher than the national median of $122,570. Pay here is 23% higher than the California statewide median of $130,610. There are 0.30 physical scientists, all other per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.1× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $177,370, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physical scientists, all other in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $91,150 | $43.82 |
| 25th percentile | $115,780 | $55.67 |
| Median | $160,580 | $77.20 |
| 75th percentile | $211,150 | $101.52 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $323,840 | $155.69 |
| Average (mean) | $177,370 | $85.28 |
Half of physical scientists, all other 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 | $13,381.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,690.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,176.15 |
| Weekly | $3,088.08 |
| Hourly | $77.20 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $160,580 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Physical Scientists, All Other salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $137,340 | 60 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $136,160 | 820 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $132,410 | 180 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $131,640 | 50 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $128,720 | n/a |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $106,750 | 40 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $101,070 | 70 |
Highest-paying states for physical scientists, all other
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $156,730 |
| Minnesota | $147,890 |
| North Dakota | $147,650 |
| Maryland | $141,290 |
| South Carolina | $141,130 |
| Massachusetts | $138,380 |
| Georgia | $137,680 |
| Alabama | $135,350 |
| Pennsylvania | $134,780 |
| Colorado | $134,440 |
See Physical Scientists, All Other pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Chemist | $114,890 | $55.24 |
| Physicist | $173,450 | $83.39 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $106,510 | $51.21 |
| Materials Scientist | $231,920 | $111.50 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $136,120 | $65.44 |
| Hydrologist | $142,640 | $68.58 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $159,300 | $76.59 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $128,980 | $62.01 |
| Biological Technician | $72,940 | $35.07 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $133,790 | $64.32 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $102,710 | $49.38 |
| Chemical Technician | $67,140 | $32.28 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $83,160 | $39.98 |
| Social Science Research Assistant | $75,010 | $36.06 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science 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 19-2099. 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 physical scientists, all other make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median salary for physical scientists, all other in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $160,580 a year, or $77.20 an hour. Pay ranges from $91,150 for the lowest-paid 10% to $323,840 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physical scientists, all other make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The top 10% of physical scientists, all other in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn at least $323,840 a year. The top 25% earn $211,150 or more.
What is the starting pay for physical scientists, all other in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $91,150 a year, and a quarter of physical scientists, all other earn $115,780 or less.
How many physical scientists, all other work in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
About 340 physical scientists, all other are employed in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.