Nursing Assistant Salary in San Jose, CA
Nursing Assistants in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median $56,840 a year — 35% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $45,652 take-home, or $3,804 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median nursing assistant salary in San Jose, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,641
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,524
- Medicare (1.45%)$824
- California income tax$1,460
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$739
- Take-home pay$45,652
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Nursing Assistant pay by experience in San Jose, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,340 | $22.76 | $38,712 | $3,226 |
| 25th percentile | $51,870 | $24.94 | $42,022 | $3,502 |
| Median (50th) | $56,840 | $27.33 | $45,652 | $3,804 |
| 75th percentile | $67,880 | $32.63 | $53,483 | $4,457 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,040 | $37.04 | $59,075 | $4,923 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $56,840 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 nursing assistant's $45,652 take-home pay has the buying power of $41,343 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Nursing Assistant jobs are less concentrated in San Jose, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.51), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for nursing assistants, adjusted for cost of living
San Jose, CA ranks #1 of 113 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $56,840 | $45,652 | $41,343 |
| 2 | Spokane, WA | $47,240 | $40,137 | $39,999 |
| 3 | Des Moines, IA | $43,940 | $36,468 | $39,768 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $51,990 | $43,954 | $39,551 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $56,080 | $45,097 | $39,007 |
| 6 | Milwaukee, WI | $45,690 | $37,663 | $38,853 |
| 7 | Scranton, PA | $43,980 | $36,168 | $38,659 |
| 8 | Las Vegas, NV | $45,350 | $38,619 | $38,536 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 113 metros →
Nursing Assistant salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $56,080
- Sacramento, CA — $47,510
- Stockton, CA — $46,530
- Fresno, CA — $44,710
- Riverside, CA — $46,430
- San Diego, CA — $48,070
- Los Angeles, CA — $47,380
Frequently asked questions
How much does a nursing assistant make in San Jose, CA?
The median nursing assistant salary in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $56,840 a year, or about $27.33 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $51,870 and $67,880.
What is a nursing assistant’s take-home pay in San Jose, CA?
On the median $56,840 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $45,652 a year ($3,804 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,199 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Jose, CA a good place to work as a nursing assistant?
Pay here is 35% above the national median of $42,260. Local prices are 10.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $41,343 would in a typical U.S. city. San Jose, CA ranks #1 of 113 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a nursing assistant 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) — 78% of a median nursing assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Jose, CA
- Dental Assistant — $74,600
- Medical Assistant — $61,940
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $37,640