Physicist Salary in San Jose, CA
Physicists in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median $173,450 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $115,663 take-home, or $9,639 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median physicist salary in San Jose, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$30,362
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,754
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,515
- California income tax$11,901
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,255
- Take-home pay$115,663
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Physicist pay by experience in San Jose, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $122,840 | $59.06 | $86,436 | $7,203 |
| 25th percentile | $150,460 | $72.34 | $102,386 | $8,532 |
| Median (50th) | $173,450 | $83.39 | $115,663 | $9,639 |
| 75th percentile | $226,750 | $109.01 | $148,112 | $12,343 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $302,040+ | $145.21 | $188,668 | $15,722 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $173,450 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 physicist's $115,663 take-home pay has the buying power of $104,745 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Jose, CA has 3.0× the national concentration of physicist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for physicists, adjusted for cost of living
San Jose, CA ranks #3 of 7 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $181,970 | $125,947 | $111,890 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $171,580 | $116,925 | $107,385 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $173,450 | $115,663 | $104,745 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $160,270 | $108,052 | $95,144 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $137,140 | $98,358 | $94,944 |
| 6 | Boulder, CO | $104,580 | $78,509 | $74,627 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $106,000 | $78,321 | $72,341 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 7 metros →
Physicist salaries elsewhere in California
- Los Angeles, CA — $160,270
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physicist make in San Jose, CA?
The median physicist salary in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $173,450 a year, or about $83.39 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $150,460 and $226,750.
What is a physicist’s take-home pay in San Jose, CA?
On the median $173,450 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $115,663 a year ($9,639 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $14,156 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Jose, CA a good place to work as a physicist?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $172,250. Local prices are 10.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $104,745 would in a typical U.S. city. San Jose, CA ranks #3 of 7 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a physicist 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) — 31% of a median physicist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Jose, CA
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists — $159,300
- Biological Scientists, All Other — $133,790
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialist — $128,980
- Chemist — $114,890
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologist — $102,710
- Biological Technician — $72,940
- Chemical Technician — $67,140