Counter and Rental Clerk Salary in San Jose, CA
Counter and Rental Clerks in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median $48,570 a year — 18% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $39,611 take-home, or $3,301 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median counter and rental clerk salary in San Jose, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,648
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,011
- Medicare (1.45%)$704
- California income tax$964
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$631
- Take-home pay$39,611
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Counter and Rental Clerk pay by experience in San Jose, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,010 | $19.72 | $33,969 | $2,831 |
| 25th percentile | $44,850 | $21.56 | $36,851 | $3,071 |
| Median (50th) | $48,570 | $23.35 | $39,611 | $3,301 |
| 75th percentile | $58,410 | $28.08 | $46,799 | $3,900 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,130 | $37.56 | $59,741 | $4,978 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $48,570 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 counter and rental clerk's $39,611 take-home pay has the buying power of $35,872 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Counter and Rental Clerk jobs are about as common in San Jose, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.98).
Best-paying cities for counter and rental clerks, adjusted for cost of living
San Jose, CA ranks #6 of 32 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richmond, VA | $46,520 | $37,698 | $38,523 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $49,350 | $41,833 | $37,642 |
| 3 | Denver, CO | $46,900 | $38,509 | $36,404 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $45,310 | $37,196 | $36,269 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | $44,760 | $37,234 | $36,039 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $48,570 | $39,611 | $35,872 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $48,010 | $39,041 | $35,856 |
| 8 | Nashville, TN | $39,890 | $34,232 | $35,533 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 32 metros →
About the job: counter and rental clerks
Receive orders, generally in person, for repairs, rentals, and services. May describe available options, compute cost, and accept payment.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.0% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Counter and Rental Clerk salaries elsewhere in California
- Sacramento, CA — $45,120
- San Francisco, CA — $47,740
- Riverside, CA — $43,130
- Los Angeles, CA — $44,460
- San Diego, CA — $42,600
Frequently asked questions
How much does a counter and rental clerk make in San Jose, CA?
The median counter and rental clerk salary in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $48,570 a year, or about $23.35 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $44,850 and $58,410.
What is a counter and rental clerk’s take-home pay in San Jose, CA?
On the median $48,570 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $39,611 a year ($3,301 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,595 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Jose, CA a good place to work as a counter and rental clerk?
Pay here is 18% above the national median of $41,300. Local prices are 10.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $35,872 would in a typical U.S. city. San Jose, CA ranks #6 of 32 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a counter and rental clerk 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) — 90% of a median counter and rental clerk’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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