Cashier Salary in San Jose, CA
Cashiers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median $42,960 a year — 31% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,432 take-home, or $2,953 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cashier salary in San Jose, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,975
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,664
- Medicare (1.45%)$623
- California income tax$708
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$558
- Take-home pay$35,432
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cashier pay by experience in San Jose, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,240 | $18.38 | $31,890 | $2,657 |
| 25th percentile | $40,440 | $19.44 | $33,541 | $2,795 |
| Median (50th) | $42,960 | $20.65 | $35,432 | $2,953 |
| 75th percentile | $46,150 | $22.19 | $37,826 | $3,152 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,670 | $27.73 | $46,258 | $3,855 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $42,960 buys in San Jose, CA
Prices in San Jose, CA are 10.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cashier's $35,432 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,088 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cashier jobs are less concentrated in San Jose, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.73), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for cashiers, adjusted for cost of living
San Jose, CA ranks #3 of 202 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $44,210 | $37,703 | $33,926 |
| 2 | Rochester, MN | $34,960 | $29,219 | $32,172 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $42,960 | $35,432 | $32,088 |
| 4 | Fargo, ND | $33,420 | $29,033 | $31,950 |
| 5 | Kennewick, WA | $36,610 | $31,596 | $31,571 |
| 6 | Duluth, MN | $33,020 | $27,764 | $31,277 |
| 7 | Spokane, WA | $36,290 | $31,339 | $31,231 |
| 8 | St. Cloud, MN | $32,480 | $27,359 | $31,220 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 202 metros →
About the job: cashiers
Receive and disburse money in establishments other than financial institutions. May use electronic scanners, cash registers, or related equipment. May process credit or debit card transactions and validate checks.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -6.5% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Cashier salaries elsewhere in California
- Santa Rosa, CA — $38,440
- San Francisco, CA — $41,270
- Modesto, CA — $36,490
- Bakersfield, CA — $35,220
- Visalia, CA — $34,770
- Vallejo, CA — $37,810
- Fresno, CA — $35,270
- Stockton, CA — $36,340
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cashier make in San Jose, CA?
The median cashier salary in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $42,960 a year, or about $20.65 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $40,440 and $46,150.
What is a cashier’s take-home pay in San Jose, CA?
On the median $42,960 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $35,432 a year ($2,953 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,266 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Jose, CA a good place to work as a cashier?
Pay here is 31% above the national median of $32,880. Local prices are 10.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,088 would in a typical U.S. city. San Jose, CA ranks #3 of 202 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cashier afford rent in San Jose, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Jose, CA is $2,957 a month ($3,464 for two bedrooms) — 100% of a median cashier’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Jose, CA
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