Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand Salary in San Jose, CA
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median $47,060 a year — 17% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,508 take-home, or $3,209 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand salary in San Jose, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,467
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,918
- Medicare (1.45%)$682
- California income tax$873
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$612
- Take-home pay$38,508
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand pay by experience in San Jose, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,710 | $19.09 | $32,993 | $2,749 |
| 25th percentile | $43,300 | $20.82 | $35,687 | $2,974 |
| Median (50th) | $47,060 | $22.63 | $38,508 | $3,209 |
| 75th percentile | $56,680 | $27.25 | $45,535 | $3,795 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $66,060 | $31.76 | $52,328 | $4,361 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $47,060 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 laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand's $38,508 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,873 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand jobs are less concentrated in San Jose, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.55), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand, adjusted for cost of living
San Jose, CA ranks #79 of 164 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waterloo, IA | $47,440 | $39,147 | $44,967 |
| 2 | Fargo, ND | $45,690 | $38,892 | $42,799 |
| 3 | Des Moines, IA | $46,370 | $38,328 | $41,797 |
| 4 | Louisville, KY | $46,830 | $38,286 | $41,135 |
| 5 | Chambersburg, PA | $47,540 | $38,919 | $41,122 |
| 6 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $43,300 | $35,978 | $40,441 |
| 7 | Youngstown, OH | $41,540 | $35,197 | $40,274 |
| 8 | Tyler, TX | $43,390 | $37,044 | $40,197 |
| 79 | San Jose, CA | $47,060 | $38,508 | $34,873 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 164 metros →
About the job: laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
Manually move freight, stock, luggage, or other materials, or perform other general labor.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +1.8% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand salaries elsewhere in California
- Bakersfield, CA — $46,890
- Stockton, CA — $47,330
- Modesto, CA — $46,630
- Riverside, CA — $46,060
- Santa Rosa, CA — $46,640
- Sacramento, CA — $45,930
- Vallejo, CA — $45,660
- San Francisco, CA — $48,400
Frequently asked questions
How much does a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand make in San Jose, CA?
The median laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand salary in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $47,060 a year, or about $22.63 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $43,300 and $56,680.
What is a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand’s take-home pay in San Jose, CA?
On the median $47,060 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $38,508 a year ($3,209 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,485 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Jose, CA a good place to work as a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand?
Pay here is 17% above the national median of $40,240. Local prices are 10.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,873 would in a typical U.S. city. San Jose, CA ranks #79 of 164 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand 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) — 92% of a median laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Jose, CA
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $70,730
- Light Truck Driver — $52,100
- Stocker and Order Filler — $44,970
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $42,410